The Islamabad High Court (IHC) is poised to deliver its verdict tomorrow, August 29, at 11 a.m., regarding the Toshakhana case involving Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The verdict comes after the IHC reserved its decision today, following Khan’s plea to suspend the sentence imposed by the trial court’s Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar in the Toshakhana case.
A two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, presided over the hearing. Amjad Parvez, the lawyer from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), who was unable to attend the last hearing due to illness, presented his arguments in the case today.
Last week, the court postponed the hearing until today at the request of Khan’s assistant counsel and instructed the ECP counsel to present their arguments on this day. The court had also directed the electoral authority to make suitable arrangements due to the absence of the lawyer.
During the last hearing, PTI’s lawyer, Latif Khosa, concluded his arguments.
The Toshakhana case stems from allegations that Khan, during his tenure as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, misused his position to acquire gifts received during official visits and then sold them for substantial profits. Under the regulations governing the Toshakhana, officials can retain gifts with lower values but must pay a significantly reduced fee to the government for extravagant items.
The gifts in question include valuable watches, with allegations that some were sold by Khan’s aides in Dubai. Notably, among the gifts were seven wristwatches, six of them crafted by Rolex, including the high-value “Master Graff limited edition” watch valued at 85 million Pakistani rupees ($385,000).
Earlier this month, a trial court sentenced Khan to three years in prison and a fine of Rs100,000. Khan contested the verdict and approached the IHC for relief and suspension of the conviction. The ECP also lodged a private complaint against Khan in the same case.
Read more: Supreme Court terms judgment against Imran Khan in Toshakhana case flawed
The Toshakhana case garnered attention due to the allegations that Khan capitalized on gifts received as prime minister by selling them for significant gains. The Election Commission investigated the matter and, in October 2022, found Khan guilty of corrupt practices, prompting them to file a complaint in an Islamabad court.
As anticipation mounts for the IHC’s decision tomorrow, the outcome of the Toshakhana case remains of keen interest to the public and legal observers alike.
