The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected former premier and PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s petition seeking a stay order on the trial court’s proceedings of the Toshakhana case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
A two-judge SC bench headed by Justice Yahya Afridi and comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali conducted the hearing on the PTI chairman’s petition challenging an order of the Islamabad High Court sending his case back to a trial court for reexamination of maintainability of the Toshakhana matter within a week.
The PTI chief also sought a stay on the proceedings before Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ), Islamabad, Hamayun Dilawar, until a decision on his appeal by the Supreme Court.
While rejecting Imran’s plea, the Supreme Court directed the Islamabad High Court to decide the case at the earliest.
During the hearing, Justice Afridi remarked that the Supreme Court could not interfere in the proceedings of the trial court.
Before the proceedings started, there was much hullabaloo in the courtroom because of the presence of Imran Khan there.
On Oct 21 last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.
On May 10, 2023, the trial court rejected Imran Khan’s challenge to the maintainability of the Toshakhana reference and indicted him in the case.
The trial court’s decision was challenged before the IHC, which remanded the case back to the former on July 4 to reexamine the matter in seven days in the light of eight legal questions to decide the maintainability of the reference.
Reporter Amanat Gishkori