Apex court rejects Imran Khan’s plea for halting Toshakhana trial

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan failed to get relief in the Toshakhana reference as the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday turned down his request for immediately stopping trial in the reference, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A three-member bench of the SC, headed by Justice Yahya Afridi, heard Imran’s appeal against the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision.  

The bench also issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials.

During the hearing, Justice Afridi asked counsel for the PTI chairman Khawaja Haris as to what else he wanted from the apex court since it had done all it could to provide relief to his client. “I am amazed that you still approached the SC,” the judge remarked.

Haris told him that it was because the high court had refused to grant ‘stay’ in the case that his client knocked at the doors of the apex court.

Justice Afridi then asked Haris as to when the IHC was due to take up the case for hearing. “The high court will start hearing of the case tomorrow,” Imran’s lawyer replied.

Haris said that real issue was that of jurisdiction. 

The judge replied that the court was trying to make sense of the situation. “We had thought that the high court would give a suitable order in your case,” he said, and added, “Let the IHC decide. Then we will also fix the case for hearing.”   

Justice Afridi went on to say that the SC had written in its order that the IHC should hear all the petitions together. “Maybe you get the relief you are looking for from the Islamabad High Court,” he said, and added, “It is also likely that the high court tomorrow orders stopping trial in the reference.”

The judge said these were the high courts that had a ‘supervisory role’ over the trial courts. 

PTI chief’s lawyer told the bench that his client had already recorded his statement in the trial court under section 342. “The trial court has ordered that the list of witnesses be provided today,” he said, adding, “The court has told us in clear and unambiguous terms that if the list is not provided today, the trial will be concluded today.”

Therefore, Haris added, it was prayed to the bench to order the trial court judge to stop hearing of the case until the SC and the IHC gave their verdicts.    

The court adjourned the case’s hearing until August 4.

Imran’s indictment in ECP contempt case deferred

On the other hand, the ECP put off indictment of the PTI chairman in contempt case until August 22.

A four-member bench of the ECP, headed by Member Nisar Durrani, heard the case.

Imran’s lawyer, on the occasion, filed a plea in the election commission, seeking exemption for his client from appearance today.

The counsel also requested the bench to adjourn the hearing.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori