IHC fixes for hearing PTI chief’s right of defence plea in Toshakhana case
Stay tuned with 24 News HD Android App
The Islamabad High Court will hear Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s petition seeking the right of defence in the Toshakhana criminal proceedings case on August 10, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
The high court has fixed the PTI chairman’s petition for hearing on Thursday. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will hear the case.
The court has issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking its reply in the case.
The trial court had denied the right of defence to Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case filed by the ECP seeking criminal proceedings against the former prime minister for hiding details of Toshakhana gifts.
The PTI had moved to the Islamabad High Court seeking to restore his right of defence in the case.
On Friday, the IHC rejected the trial court’s verdict that had declared the Toshakhana reference filed by the ECP against the PTI chairman as maintainable for criminal proceedings.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq ordered the trial court to decide the matter again after re-hearing the case. He also rejected the PTI chief’s appeal to transfer the case to another court and issued a notice for next week on a petition to restore Imran Khan’s right of defence in the Toshakhana trial.
However, during the case hearing in the trial court on Saturday, Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar declared the PTI chairman guilty of “corrupt practices” in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in prison.
The former prime minister was arrested by the Punjab police on Saturday afternoon from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore and was sent to Attock jail on the judge’s order.
“He has been found guilty of corrupt practices by hiding the benefits he accrued from the national exchequer wilfully and intentionally. He cheated while providing information of gifts he obtained from Toshakhana which later proved to be false and inaccurate,” ADSJ Humayun Dilawar said in short order.
“His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt,” the court order said, adding that the court sentenced Imran to three years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on him.
Reporter Rozina Ali