Big Relief for Imran khan! IHC announces crucial Toshakhana verdict
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The Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled on Tuesday that the Toshakhana (gift repository) case against the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was inadmissible.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the reserved ruling on a plea filed by the former premier against a trial court order that had found the criminal case brought by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) admissible.
The petition was filed on May 10, after the PTI head was indicted in the case. The high court stopped criminal proceedings in the Toshakhana case two days earlier.
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On May 5, Islamabad’s Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar declared that charges in the Toshakhana case would be filed against the PTI chairman on May 10.
During the hearing, the former Prime Minister’s counsel argued on two counts, claiming that the ECP’s petition was “non-maintainable” and that the sessions court had jurisdiction to hear the case.
The judge, however, denied both motions and called the PTI chairman in person for the indictment.
On May 10, Judge Humayun Dilawar indicted him during court proceedings held at the Police Lines headquarters guest house at H-11.
The commissioner’s office had granted the Police Lines the status of court for security reasons. When he was indicted in the Toshakhana case, he refused to sign the forms while denying any wrongdoing.
The Case
Last year, lawmakers from the ruling coalition filed a reference against him, accusing him of failing to disclose the details of gifts he received from Toshakhana in his asset declarations, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) concluded in October last year that the PTI chief made false statements about the gifts.
The election commission later disqualified him for being dishonest and corrupt, and the PTI head was charged with perjury in the district and sessions courts for allegedly misleading officials about the presents.
