Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued a stay order on the indictment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana. Imran Khan was indicted in the Toshakhana case on Wednesday, a day after he was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case from Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises. The hearing was presided over by Islamabad High Court chief justice Aamer Farooq. Khawaja Haris, Khan’s lawyer, in his arguments before the court said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not forward a complaint against his client as per law. Complaint cannot be moved forward after the end of the deadline, he added. The IHC CJ asked Khawaja Haris, what did the session judge hearing the case say on reservations raised by you?

The judge said we will see the matter during the recording of the statements in the case, he replied and added the case is not admissible for hearing. After hearing arguments from Imran Khan’s lawyer, IHC CJ issued a stay order on the indictment and ordered the sessions court to halt the proceedings. The reference, which alleges that Imran failed to share details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana (during his time as the prime minister) was filed by lawmakers from the ruling coalition last year.

The Toshakhana issue became a major sticking point in national politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified the PTI chief for making “false statements and incorrect declaration” last month. The judgement added that the former premier was found to be indulged in corrupt practices under sections 167 and 173 of the constitution. “A criminal proceeding will be initiated against him over filing a false statement.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP