ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday set aside a session court’s verdict that declared the Toshakhana reference against the PTI chairman as maintainable for criminal proceedings.
“The session court should hear and decide again,” the IHC said.
The court rejected the PTI chief’s appeal to transfer the case to another court and also issued a notice for next week on the appeal to restore the right of defense.
It also issued a notice on the application against the decision to reject the list of witnesses.
A session court had last month declared that the ECP reference against the PTI chief was maintainable. The decision was subsequently challenged in the IHC.
On Thursday, the IHC had reserved its verdict on the set of petitions filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan, including the application against the maintainability of the complaint seeking criminal proceedings against him on the charge of hiding Toshakhana gifts, a petition seeking the transfer of the said case to another trial court and a third petition filed the same day seeking the right to defence in the case.
The case, filed by ruling party lawmakers, is based on a criminal complaint filed by the ECP.
The case alleges that Imran had “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana — a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept — during his time as the prime minister and proceeds from their reported sales.
