ISLAMABAD: In a relief to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, a district and sessions court on Tuesday rejected the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plea for an early hearing in the Toshakhana case. .
After hearing the arguments of the parties, Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal said that the hearing in this regard will be held on April 29, which was initially decided on March 30.
Khan faces corruption charges related to the state gift depository – a charge he denies.
In October last year, Khan was barred from holding public office after the ECP found him guilty of illegally selling gifts to foreign dignitaries and heads of state.
Despite the summons being issued in the case, the trial court had issued arrest warrants for the PTI chief in March due to his continued absence.
The arrest order, however, was quashed by the trial court a few days later, on the PTI’s insistence that Khan’s life was in danger and he needed security. The court adjourned the hearing till March 30 and ordered Khan to ensure his attendance.
However, during the last hearing on March 30, the ousted prime minister – who was removed as prime minister in April last year – was granted relief till April 29 despite his absence.
At the start of today’s hearing, the court asked the lawyers about their stand on the petition filed by the commission.
Imran Khan’s lawyers Khawaja Haris and Faisal Chaudhry said that there is no need for an early hearing and called it a waste of resources.
He was of the view that after consulting the ECP, the hearing was adjourned till April 29. However, after two days the electoral body decided that it wanted to schedule the hearing earlier.
Meanwhile, Khawaja Haris added that the decision in the matter should be taken without the ECP’s influence alleging that the commission’s conduct was “discriminatory” against Khan.
“The ECP’s interference in scheduling the hearing earlier is tantamount to influencing the verdict in the case as it wants to indict the PTI chief,” he added.
On the other hand, ECP lawyer Amjad Parvaiz said Khan’s lawyers were accusing the electoral body of “discriminatory attitude”, adding that their petition was in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment which said that the trial The court should decide the cases related to corrupt practices within three months.
“The Supreme Court has said that once a complaint is filed, the case should be disposed of within three months,” he said, adding that the ECP petition was filed in the light of the Supreme Court’s order. .
Toshakhana case
Under the rules governing the “toshakhana” – a Persian word meaning “treasure chest” – government officials can keep gifts if they are of little value, while they can be given dramatically to the government for extravagant items. But you have to pay less fee.
Toshakhana 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 made 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.
