Home TRENDING PTI LEADER’S REQUEST FOR A TRIAL DELAY IN THE TOSHAKHANA CRIMINAL CASE...

PTI LEADER’S REQUEST FOR A TRIAL DELAY IN THE TOSHAKHANA CRIMINAL CASE WAS DENIED.

PTI LEADER'S REQUEST FOR A TRIAL DELAY IN THE TOSHAKHANA CRIMINAL CASE WAS DENIED.

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On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to rule on pending petitions of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and denied to stay the Toshakhana case proceedings initiated by a trial court in Islamabad against the former prime minister.

Police officers walk past the Supreme Court of Pakistan building, in Islamabad, Pakistan April 6, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

The PTI chief has three ongoing petitions, and a division bench led by Justice Yahya Afridi and includes Justice Mussarat Hilali has asked the IHC to rule on them, saying that the trial court’s jurisdiction must be settled first.

The PTI leader had already contested the trial court’s authority in pending cases. Counsel for Pakistan’s Election Commission (ECP) agreed that the IHC should first rule on the court’s jurisdiction.

After deciding against Imran’s request for a stay of the trial court’s proceedings, the bench explained that the SC would not intervene because the IHC has supervisory authority in the case.

The PTI chairman had petitioned the IHC to have six pending proceedings against him transferred to a different trial court. Bushra Bibi, Imran’s wife, had also asked for the case against her to be moved to a different court. IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq heard arguments on the petition and has yet to issue a ruling.

Learn the Consequences of Hiding State Gifts

As for the PTI chairman’s bail application, the chief judge of the IHC blocked Civil Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra from rendering a final decision. He also told Imran’s attorney to talk to the top commissioner in Islamabad about getting his client some protection.

The cases against the PTI chairman for the violence on May 9 are being heard by Judge Sipra. On Wednesday, he extended Imran’s temporary bail in six separate cases to July 31. When the PTI chairman asked not to present in person, he agreed.

Situation Toshakhana

Also on Wednesday, Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar heard arguments in the Toshakhana (gift repository) case and questioned the PTI chairman for 35 minutes.

The PTI chairman’s appeal to postpone his personal appearance for one day was granted, but he was ordered to appear before the judge on Thursday (today).

In accordance with Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the court has given PTI chairman Barrister Ali Gohar a questionnaire to utilise during taking the statement of the accused.

The PTI chairman is being questioned about a number of issues that have come up throughout the trial. The PTI chairman was quoted as saying that he had saved Toshakhana presents he had received between 2018 and 2021.

The court questioned the PTI chief about whether or not he had listed the gifts he had received in 2020-21 as assets, whether or not he had sold the gifts he had received in 2018-19 and received Rs58 million in return, whether or not he had gifted the gifts he had received in 2019-20 to someone else and not disclosed them as assets.

According to the questionnaire, the PTI chairman allegedly lied about receiving four gifts in 2018–19, three gifts in 2019–20, and five gifts in 2020–21.

The PTI chairman was questioned about allegations that he withheld information concerning the individuals to whom he had handed Toshakhana presents in 2019 and the individuals to whom he had sold gifts in 2018-19.

The information presented in the questionnaire indicated that between 2018 and 2021, Imran had knowingly concealed his riches. In addition, he was asked if he planned to offer any proof in his defence.

Fraud involving £190 million

The PTI chairman’s temporary bail in the £190 million corruption case and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation into the Toshakhana presents was extended by Judge Muhammad Bashir of Islamabad Accountability Court-1 till July 31.

The court also prolonged Bushra Bibi’s interim bail and set final arguments on the interim bail for July 31 as part of the NAB inquiry into Toshakhana presents.

Meanwhile, the PTI chairman’s motion for acquittal in the matter of intimidating a female judge was heard in a district and sessions court. He formally asked the court to schedule a quick hearing on his petition.

The PTI leader had claimed in March of last year that a foreign conspiracy existed against his administration because of the suspected misuse of a diplomatic cypher. On Tuesday, Imran appeared before a joint inquiry committee chaired by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to answer questions about this claim.

After receiving the PTI chairman’s statement and reviewing more evidence and records, the FIA issued a new summons for August 1.

The PTI chairman’s nomination in the lawyer’s murder case in Quetta was the subject of a separate written order from the Supreme Court.

The current bench may not be available for the next hearing of the matter, according to the court order, because of summer recess. However, the order also said that the case might be assigned to a different bench if necessary.

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