ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared the Toshakhana reference case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan as inadmissible.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the verdict reserved on June 23 after the PTI chief filed a petition to have the case declared not maintainable under the law. The former prime minister had challenged a decision of a trial court that allowed the criminal case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Imran Khan was indicted in the Toshakhana case on May 10 after Additional Sessions Judge rejected objections about the admissibility of the case seeking criminal proceedings.
The PTI chief then approached the IHC which stayed criminal proceedings on the case till June 8. After the hearing resumed, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq reserved his verdict on the petition and said the matter will be decided after Eid-ul-Azha.
In his petition, the PTI chair objected to filing a complaint after a specified period. His lawyer, Khawaja Haris, maintained that a complaint could only be filed within four months of submitting the return.
A day earlier, the PTI chief submitted a petition to the court, seeking Justice Aamer’s recusal from the case. He sought the transfer of the two Toshakhana cases to another bench in the interest of a fair and impartial trial.
Speaking to media outside the court after the verdict, the PTI chief’s lawyer Gohar Khan termed the verdict a victory for the party chairman He said the appeal was filed against the decision of the session judge in the Toshakhana case. He said they have approaching the court for a year and has been vindicated.
The reference claims that Imran Khan failed to share details of the gifts retained from the Toshaskhana during his time as the prime minister. He was accused of misusing power to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than Rs140 million ($635,000). The gifts included watches given by a royal family which was alleged sold in Dubai.
The ECP disqualified the PTI chief for making “false statements and incorrect declaration” and indulging in corrupt practices under sections 167 and 173 of the constitution. The ECP moved the Islamabad sessions court and sought criminal proceedings against him.
NAB had launched probe against in Toshakhana case on March 9 after a Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor claimed that the PTI government sold an expensive Graff wristwatch — gifted to Imran Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman — for $2 million, worth approximately Rs280m in 2019.
