Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has been granted a reprieve after a district and sessions court rejected the Election Commission of Pakistan’s petition for an early hearing in the Toshakhana case.
The hearing would take place on April 29, as had been previously decided, according to Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal.
Imran Khan is charged with corrupt activities involving the state gift depository, which he vigorously refutes.
The ECP prohibited the former prime minister from holding public office in October of last year after he was found guilty of selling gifts from foreign heads of state and dignitaries without authorization.
Due to Khan’s persistent absence despite being served with an indictment summons in the case, the trial court had issued an arrest warrant for him in March.
A few days later, the trial court reversed its decision to issue an arrest warrant after the PTI argued that Khan needed security because his life was in danger. The hearing had been postponed until March 30, and Khan was instructed to make sure he was present.
Khan was not present at the March 30 hearing, but he was still given relief until April 29. The court questioned the attorneys about their opinions of the petition submitted by the commission at the beginning of the hearing on Tuesday.
Khawaja Haris and Faisal Chaudhry, Imran Khan’s attorneys, claimed that an early hearing was unnecessary and a “waste of resources.”
They argued that the hearing was adjourned till April 29 after consultation with the ECP. However, the electoral body decided that it wanted to schedule this hearing earlier.
Khawaja Haris, who claimed that the ECP’s actions in this case were “discriminatory” towards Khan, added that the decision should be made independently of the ECP.
Since the ECP wants to indict the PTI chief, he continued, “the ECP’s interference in moving the hearing up is equivalent to influencing the decision in this case.”
On the other hand, Khan’s attorneys are claiming that the electoral body has a “discriminatory attitude,” according to ECP attorney Amjad Pervaiz.
He added that the Supreme Court’s decision, which stated that the trial court should wrap up cases involving corrupt practises within three months, was in line with their request.
Since allegations that Imran Khan bought gifts he received as prime minister at discount prices and resold them on the open market for enormous profits, the Toshakhana case has come under intense scrutiny.
According to government officials who have previously claimed that Khan’s aides sold the gifts in Dubai, the presents included watches given by a royal family.
According to the election commission’s ruling, Imran was ineligible to run for office under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.
The PTI chief has missed multiple hearings since the election watchdog filed a criminal complaint against him with the Islamabad Sessions Court in response to the order.
