On Saturday, a trial court in Islamabad granted former prime minister Imran Khan a one-day reprieve from appearing in the Toshakhana case.

Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) criminal lawsuit against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) head Imran Khan for allegedly concealing data concerning state gifts resumed in court.
The PTI chief’s request for a postponement was granted by Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar, who also ordered him to appear in court on Monday (July 24).
Barrister Gohar Ali, representing the defendant, filed a motion for a continuance until Monday in light of the defendant’s motion for special treatment.
Lawyer Amjad Pervaiz representing the ECP raised an objection to the plea, saying that no excuses for absence from court had been provided. He argued that the accused should be required to appear in court.
See also: Appeal of the trial court’s ruling in the Toshakhana case
The PTI chairman would appear before the SC on Monday, as reported by Advocate Pervaiz. He asked the highest court to order the former prime minister to swear in an affidavit promising his presence at future court proceedings.
Judge Dilawar noted at the hearing that the case file contained only the exemption plea. He was annoyed that one of Imran’s solicitors had objected at one of the daily hearings.
“Your exemption pleas have always been accepted even though the accused has not appeared before the court even once,” the judge said.
After the PTI leader’s appearance before the Supreme Court, the judge postponed further hearings till Monday (July 24).
Two prosecution witnesses gave testimony in court the day before, and today the PTI chief’s attorney, Khawaja Haris, was scheduled to begin cross-examining them.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court refused to grant the PTI head an emergency stay of proceedings.
Instead, the injunction hearing was postponed until next week after the IHC issued a notice regarding the request for injunction.