In a significant development, a court in Islamabad has declared the Toshakhana case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, admissible. The verdict was announced by Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar on Saturday, following the rejection of a plea filed by PTI’s lawyer seeking an exemption from appearance for Khan.
The judge has scheduled the next hearing for July 12, during which witnesses will be summoned to record their statements. This decision comes after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lawyer accused the PTI chief of employing delaying tactics by filing exemption pleas and urged the court to issue its verdict on the maintainability of the Toshakhana case.
Earlier this month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) nullified the decision of the trial court that had previously rejected the PTI chief’s plea challenging the admissibility of the Toshakhana case. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the verdict and directed the matter back to the trial court, instructing it to reconsider the arguments of the PTI. The trial court was given a week to decide on the PTI chairman’s plea in the Toshakhana case.
Imran Khan was indicted in the case on May 10, following a petition filed in the high court. The case originated last year when a reference was filed against Khan by lawmakers of the PDM government. They accused him of failing to disclose the details of gifts he retained from Toshakhana in his assets declarations.
The ECP concluded the case in October last year, determining that the PTI chief had filed false statements regarding the gifts. As a result, the electoral watchdog disqualified Imran Khan for dishonesty and submitted a petition with the sessions court seeking criminal proceedings against the PTI chief. With the recent court ruling, the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan is set to proceed, marking a significant turn in this ongoing legal saga.
