ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court of Islamabad has admitted the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plea against former prime minister Imran Khan in the Toshakana case.
The Criminal proceedings against Imran Khan in the case will commence on January 09.
The court has summoned the former prime minister as it pronounced the verdict on the admissibility of the plea which was reserved on December 12.
The additional sessions judge in his verdict fixed the plea for hearing on January 9 and issued notice to former prime minister Imran Khan to appear in person before the court.
The court had reserved its decision on the maintainability of the plea earlier this week. The trial will commence on January 09.
On November 22, the trial court took up the Toshakhana reference filed by Election Commission against Khan for allegedly indulging in corrupt practices, which the former premier denies.
On the last hearing, ECP’s lawyer Saad Hassan appeared before the court and presented his arguments.
“Imran Khan said that he constructed a road with the money [acquired from] Toshakhana [gifts],” he said, adding that a prime minister has to deposit any gift they receive to the Toshakhana.
He further stated that the Toshakhana gifts could be retained after paying 20% of the gift’s price until the PTI government introduced a new law which allowed taking the Toshakhana gifts after paying 50% of its price.
“The price of the watch was estimated at Rs85 million,” he said, adding that Khan failed to state the amount for which he sold the Toshakhana watch. Hassan stated if any Toshakhana items were transferred then it was mandatory to mention them in the tax income statements.
“It is not possible to personally own an item from the Toshakhana without declaring it,” said the lawyer.
