IHC Suspends Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s Sentence In Toshakhana Case

Islamabad: On Monday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) temporarily halted the conviction of Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the Toshakhana case.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC stated that the appeal against their conviction will be scheduled for a hearing after the Eid holidays.

Read more: Imran Khan Challenges Toshakhana And Cypher Case Convictions In Court

In January, Judge Muhammad Bashir of the accountability court had sentenced Khan and Bushra to 14 years in prison with strict penalties in the Toshakhana case. Additionally, the judge had disqualified the former prime minister for 10 years and imposed a fine of Rs1.57 billion — Rs787 million each — on the couple.

Khan argued in court that his wife had no involvement in the case and was unjustly implicated.

During the hearing, IHC CJ Farooq mentioned that the cipher case would be concluded in a few days and clarified that scheduling the Toshakhana case for immediate hearing after today’s session wouldn’t be feasible.

The court noted that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) needed to commence arguments in the cipher case, and the duration of that process was uncertain. Therefore, the Toshakhana case was postponed until after Eid.

In a separate case concerning their alleged illegal marriage on February 1, the couple was sentenced to seven years in prison each. Earlier, on January 30, Khan and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi were handed a 10-year prison sentence in the cipher case.

These consecutive verdicts against Khan came just days before the general elections scheduled for February 8.