Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday adjourned 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 till Monday.
Two-member IHC bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Tariq Memhmood Jahangiri conducted the hearing on the petition.
During today's hearing, Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) law officer informed the court that Advocate Amjad Pervaiz, who is representing the electoral body in the case, could not appear in the court due to being “extremely unwell”.
At this, CJ Aamer Farooq said that request for suspension of sentence is now at a critical stage.
"The arguments would have been completed in 15 to 20 minutes', the IHC CJ said, adding that the bench can also do what the trial court did, but we will not.
The PTI has criticised the trial court's verdict saying that the decision was announced in haste in the absence of the party chief and his lawyer.
Justice Amer said that the hearing was being adjourned till Monday and we will announce the decision even if no one comes.
"We adjourn the case till Monday, and even if no one comes, we will announce our decision," Justice Farooq said, adding that what the trial court had done was wrong.
Opposing the adjournment of hearing, PTI's lawyer Latif Khosa said if the hearing is to be adjourned then we are not a part of it. He requested the court not to adjourn the case today.
He said that the PTI chairman will be kept behind the bars for another three days?”
Advocate Latif Khosa then left the rostrum in protest, saying, ““Then we will not appear before the court. You can do what you want.”
However accepting the ECP's request, the court adjourned the hearing till August 28 (Monday).
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, Imran Khan was taken to Attock Jail where, according to his lawyers, he was being provided “C-class facilities”.
