Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday resumed hearing of a petition, filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan, against his conviction and imprisonment in Toshakhana case.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court (SC) had acknowledged “procedural defects” in PTI chief's conviction by the trial court, but had opted to wait for the IHC's decision on the former premier's plea seeking suspension of jail sentence.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial had observes that there were prima facie shortcomings in the trial court verdict in the Toshakhana case.
"But we will not intervene at this stage, and will wait for the outcome of the high IHC decision,” the CJP observed and before adjourning the proceedings to later today at 2pm.
Imran Khan was arrested on August 5 after a after an Islamabad trial court declared him guilty of “corrupt practices” in the Toshakhana case.
He was awarded a three-year jail term by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar, in the case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for allegedly concealing Toshakhana gifts he had retained.
Later, the former had moved the IHC, through his lawyers, against the trial court’s August 5 verdict, saying that the said order was “liable to be set aside” as it was passed “with the pre-disposed mind”.
“This appeal is directed against judgment dated 05.08.2023, whereby the appellant was tried in complaint filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan under section 190 of the Election Act, 2017, was convicted and awarded three (03) years imprisonment along with fine of Rs100,000.
“Notice to the respondent. Office is directed to requisition the record of the learned Trial Court,” the order reads.
After his arrest on Aug 5, Imran Khan was taken to Attock Jail where, according to his lawyers, he was being provided “C-class facilities”.