On Monday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its verdict on the petition filed by former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan, seeking the suspension of the trial verdict in the Toshakhana case.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had earlier disqualified Imran Khan from holding any public office for five years, citing “corrupt practices” related to concealing details of state gifts received during his tenure as prime minister.
The two-member bench, consisting of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, conducted the hearing. Imran Khan’s lawyer, Latif Khosa, appeared in court, expressing that he was denied attendance at a hearing in Adiala jail. He argued for his right to be present on behalf of his client. Justice Farooq promised to inform the registrar about the matter.
During the hearing, ECP’s lawyer, Advocate Amjad Parvez, objected to the same plea filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC), asserting that a petition challenging ECP’s disqualification notification was already pending. Parvez argued that the LHC had forwarded the matter to a five-member bench after hearing it and requested that this petition was not admissible in the IHC.
The Toshakhana, established in 1974, is a department under the Cabinet Division that stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, and officials by foreign dignitaries. It includes items such as bulletproof cars, gold-plated souvenirs, paintings, watches, and more. The case revolves around allegations that Imran Khan purchased gifts received as prime minister at low prices and sold them for significant profits.
Imran Khan, a 70-year-old former cricketer turned politician, was accused of misusing his premiership from 2018 to 2022 to buy and sell gifts worth over Rs140 million ($635,000). The gifts, including watches from a royal family, were allegedly sold in Dubai. The Election Commission, in October 2022, found Imran Khan guilty of corrupt practices in this matter.
