Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court has dismissed Imran Khan’s request to halt the ongoing trial court proceedings in the ToshaKhana case, advising him to await the Islamabad High Court’s decision, according to The News International. The apex court’s three-member bench, led by Justice Yahya Afridi and including Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Musarat Hilali, heard Khan’s plea under Article 185(3) of the Constitution to appeal against the Islamabad High Court’s previous order on July 27.
Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, had sought a suspension of the trial court proceedings in the ToshaKhana reference until the Islamabad HC resolved his pending pleas, which included jurisdictional questions. He had argued that the HC’s chief justice did not grant a stay on the trial court proceedings despite his request.
In his plea to the Supreme Court, Khan had requested a stay on the recording of his statement under Section 342 and urged the apex court to halt the ongoing trial before District and Sessions Judge Islamabad Humayun Dilawar until the Islamabad HC made a final decision on his pending applications. However, the Supreme Court rejected the plea and issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for August 4.
Justice Yahya Afridi informed Khan’s counsel, Khawaja Haris, that the IHC had been directed to collectively address the pending petitions.
The ToshaKhana reference, filed by lawmakers from the ruling coalition, alleges that Imran Khan failed to disclose details of gifts retained from the ToshaKhana during his tenure as Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the ECP postponed the indictment of Imran Khan in the ToshaKhana case, with the next hearing scheduled for August 22.
Last year, the ECP initiated contempt proceedings against Imran Khan, Asad Umar, and Fawad Chaudhry of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for alleged use of “intemperate” language against the chief election commissioner and the electoral watchdog.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan warned today that he might be disqualified in the Toshakhana case and that he is being “continuously denied” the right to a fair trial. Khan’s comments came only hours after a district and sessions court in Islamabad denied Khan’s counsel’s request to call four witnesses in the ToshaKhana corruption case.
عدالت میں زیرِسماعت توشہ خانہ کیس کہ جس میں مجھے فیئر ٹرائل کے آئینی حق سے مسلسل محروم کیا جا رہا ہے اور اپنے دفاع میں گواہان تک پیش کرنے کی اجازت نہیں دی جا رہی، کے حوالے سے قوم کو میرا پیغام!
اعلیٰ عدالتیں انصاف کے ایسے بہیمانہ قتل، جو بہرصورت فوجی طرز کے ایک مِس ٹرائل ہی سے… pic.twitter.com/AjhpJPXemh
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 2, 2023
The ToshaKhana corruption case revolves around allegations that, during his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan, Khan refrained from disclosing pertinent information concerning gifts entrusted to the ToshaKhana, a government entity responsible for managing gifts and valuable items provided to the Prime Minister, high-ranking Cabinet members, officials, and others. Additionally, the case pertains to the alleged “unlawful” sale of certain gifts.
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