Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan's Toshakhana Case Verdict Declared Void by Islamabad High Court
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared the trial court's verdict upholding the maintainability of a criminal complaint against former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case as 'void'. The IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq has ordered a rehearing of the case by the trial court. Additionally, the High Court rejected Khan's plea to transfer the case to another court and has asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate alleged posts on the session judge's Facebook account. Meanwhile, the district and sessions court in Islamabad has summoned Imran Khan on Saturday for the Toshakhana case.
Toshakhana Case Background
The Toshakhana case revolves around accusations that the former PM, Imran Khan, intentionally concealed details of gifts received from the Toshakhana, a repository where presents given to government officials from foreign authorities are kept. These alleged actions occurred during Khan's tenure as prime minister, and the case has since seen numerous developments in the courts.
IHC Declares Trial Court Verdict Void
The Islamabad High Court, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, has deemed the trial court's verdict upholding the criminal complaint against Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case as 'void'. This decision effectively nullifies the previous ruling, requiring the trial court to re-examine the case and make a new decision.
Rejection of Plea to Transfer Case
Imran Khan's plea to transfer the Toshakhana case to another court was dismissed by the High Court. The case will continue to be heard in its original jurisdiction. The rejection means that the trial court will retain authority over the proceedings, and Khan's defense will need to address the issues raised during the rehearing.
FIA Investigation into Facebook Posts
The Islamabad High Court has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to conduct an investigation into certain alleged posts on the Facebook account of the session judge involved in the case. The court has given the FIA a time frame of 15 days to produce a report on its findings, which could impact the case's proceedings.
Khan Summoned by District and Sessions Court
While the Toshakhana case unfolds at the higher court level, the district and sessions court in Islamabad has summoned Imran Khan to appear on Saturday. This summons requires Khan's personal appearance in the court to address the charges related to the alleged concealment of gifts from the Toshakhana during his tenure as prime minister.
Previous Indictment and Challenges
Earlier, on May 10, Imran Khan was indicted in the Toshakhana case by Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar, who dismissed protests against the admissibility of the case. However, the Islamabad High Court later declared the Toshakhana case against the former prime minister as "inadmissible." The trial court's subsequent verdict upholding the criminal complaint was challenged in the IHC.
Rejection of PTI Chairman's Witnesses
On August 2, the trial court rejected Imran Khan's witnesses, stating their "relevance" in the criminal proceedings against him was not proven. This decision was also contested at the high court level.
The Toshakhana case against former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken a complex turn with the Islamabad High Court declaring the previous verdict void and ordering a rehearing. The court has also rejected Khan's plea to transfer the case to another court and instructed the FIA to investigate alleged posts on a session judge's Facebook account. As the legal proceedings continue, Imran Khan faces a summons to appear in the district and sessions court, adding further scrutiny to the allegations of hiding details of gifts from the Toshakhana during his time in office.
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