The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to respondents on Wednesday in response to a case brought by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, who has expressed concerns about the impartiality of Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.
The former prime minister, acting through his attorney, filed a petition this week expressing his displeasure with the panel of justices (which includes Justice Aamer Farooq) hearing the Toshakhana (gift repository) issue.
The PTI leader had petitioned the chief judge to disqualify himself from hearing the high-profile case and transfer it to another court out of worry that the bench might not be able to function fairly and impartially.
After today’s hearing, the chief justice of the IHC stated that the Registrar office’s objections would be upheld and that a petition number would not be provided at this time.
See also: Imran asks the Chief Justice of the IHC to step down from the Toshakhana case.
He went on to say that the court was wary of creating a precedent that could have long-lasting negative effects on society at large.
The lawyer for the PTI leader claimed that his client had told him to pursue this matter.
The chief judge then said that notices will be served on the respondents and their input would be sought.
The Chief Justice of the IHC stated that a thorough opinion had been rendered in the Azam Swati case and that the bench would reach a reasonable conclusion if the petitioner so desired.
The case was postponed after the court issued notices to the parties involved.
In re Toshakhana
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) referred the Toshakhana case for criminal prosecution of the PTI leader under Articles 137, 170, and 167 of the Election Act, 2017 to the trial court on November 22 of last year.
A four-member ECP bench unanimously concluded that Imran had lied to officials about the gifts he had received from foreign dignitaries while in office, and a month later, the case was referred to the court.
In April, public records showed that Imran and his wife had saved 52 expensive gifts “without paying a single penny” for them.
It has been reported that former Prime Minister Imran kept a secret record of Toshakhana presents he got between August 2018 and December 2021 from the country’s tax authorities.
The Toshakhana is a sub-division of the Cabinet Division responsible for keeping track of the high-value presents that foreign heads of state, government, and other dignitaries have bestowed upon their counterparts in the host country’s highest political and judicial bodies.
Learn More Imran claims in a leaked audio file that the IHC chief justice is “taking orders.”
The previous administration took the position that discussing Toshakhana publicly would damage diplomatic ties.
The couple kept the remaining treasures after paying a little sum, far below their estimated value, as evidenced by the gift list.
Everything that foreign countries were giving to Pakistan as gifts was kept by the couple. This included seven Rolex watches and other high-end timepieces, as well as gold and diamond jewellery, such as necklaces, bracelets, rings, chains, an expensive pen, cufflinks, dinnerware, perfumes, and Oud.
Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia gave Imran the most priceless present on the occasion of his first official visit to the kingdom. The former prime minister retained the Rs85 million Graff wristwatch for only Rs20 million.
