- The hearing was held at the place where Khan is detained.
- The ECP had sought criminal action against the former prime minister.
- Indictment against Imran Khan in this case was pending for a long time.
A District and Sessions Court in Islamabad on Wednesday framed charges against former prime minister Imran Khan in the Tosha Khana case – in which the ousted prime minister is accused of illegally accepting gifts.
Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar charged the prisoners. Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). During his tenure as prime minister, he was accused of “deliberately concealing” details of gifts he kept from the Tosha Khana – a repository where gifts given to government officials by foreign dignitaries are kept.
KhanHowever, denied the charges and claimed innocence.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had demanded action under the criminal law against the former prime minister in the case.
The charge sheet in the case was pending for a long time as the PTI chief was avoiding appearing in court.
Last week, an Islamabad court summoned Khan on May 10 to frame the charges against him in the case. In its reference, the election watchdog alleged that the former prime minister had “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he kept from Tosha Khana.
It should be noted that Khan was not brought to the regular court of the federal capital and his scheduled hearing was held at the same place where he was detained.
The Chief Commissioner of Islamabad had earlier said that instead of being taken to F8 Court Complex and Judicial Complex G11/4, Khan would be lodged in the new Police Guest House, Police Lines – which has been given a one-off status. The court read out the notification issued by the Government of Pakistan for this special hearing.
In October last year, the ECP had disqualified the former prime minister in a unanimous decision in the Toshakana reference and decided that he was no longer a member of the National Assembly.
Criminal action will be taken against PTI chairman for false statement, read the verdict.
On October 22, Khan – who was ousted as prime minister in a no-confidence vote in April last year – challenged the ECP’s order in the Islamabad High Court, asking the court to uphold the verdict. be declared null and void as the ECP had no jurisdiction. On this matter
What is Tosha Khana case?
Under the rules governing the “toshakhana” – a Persian word meaning “treasure chest” – government officials can keep gifts if they are of low value, while paying the government dramatically for extravagant items. A lower fee will have to be paid.
Tosha Khana has been under a microscope ever since allegations surfaced that Imran Khan bought gifts as prime minister at wholesale prices and sold them in the open market for huge profits.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was accused of abusing his prime ministership from 2018 to 2022 by buying and selling state-owned gifts received during overseas trips worth 140 million rupees ($635,000). ) was greater than
Among the gifts were watches given by a royal family, according to government officials, who had previously alleged that Khan’s aides had sold them in Dubai.
The gifts included seven wristwatches, six by watchmaker Rolex, and the most expensive was a “Mastergraph Limited Edition” worth 85 million Pakistani rupees ($385,000).
The Election Commission’s order said that Imran Khan is disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.
Following the order, the election watchdog approached the Islamabad sessions court seeking criminal proceedings against him – and the PTI chief missed several hearings.