Islamabad (Web Desk): Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawa, who convicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan and awarded him three-year imprisonment in the Toshakhana case, was made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD).
According to a notification issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday, Judge Dilawar, a Grade 20 officer, serving as the ADSJ (West), Islamabad, was made an officer on special duty (OSD), on the instruction of Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.
"The Hon'ble Chief Justice of this Court [IHC] has been pleased to make following transfer/posting of Additional District & Sessions Judge, in the public interest,” the notification said.
The notification added that the judicial officer shall join his new assignment with immediate effect.
It is pertinent to mention here that ADSJ Dilawar pleaded with the relevant authorities to transfer him to any other place preferably in special courts located in the Judicial Complex G-11/ or the Islamabad High Court due to the threats being received by him and his family.
In a letter to the IHC CJ, Dilawar detailed his apprehensions regarding personal security. He cited a social media campaign that emerged both during and after the trial, which resulted in substantial threats originating from various individuals worldwide.
The judge informed the IHC CJ that the threats extended to his family in his hometown and disrupted his children's schooling due to security concerns.
He also mentioned that while attending a training session at the University of Hull during a visit to the UK, he and his fellow judicial officers faced unsettling incidents.
In the letter, he detailed his apprehensions regarding personal security. He cited a social media campaign that emerged both during and after the trial, which resulted in substantial threats originating from various individuals worldwide.
On Aug 5, Judge Dilawar had sentenced PTI Chairman Imran Khan to three years in jail and a fine of Rs100,000 in the Toshakhana criminal case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Later, the PTI moved both IHC and Supreme Court (SC) against the conviction.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, heading an SC bench, noted potential flaws in Judge Dilawar’s handling of the trial. However, the top court decided to await the IHC's verdict on the PTI's petition before passing any judgement in this regard.
On Friday, the IHC adjourned hearing of the PTI chief's petition 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 the 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).