Toshakhana case: Verdict on Imran’s plea in search of cancellation of arrest warrants reserved – Pakistan
An Islamabad district and periods court docket on Monday reserved its verdict in a petition filed by PTI chairman Imran Khan in search of the cancellation of his arrest warrants issued within the Toshakhana case over his persistent absences within the case hearings.
The identical court docket had final week issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran after he determined to not flip up earlier than the court docket whereas attending hearings of three different circumstances — prohibited funding, terrorism, and tried homicide — filed towards him in different native courts positioned in proximity.
On Sunday, an Islamabad police team was sent to Lahore to arrest Imran with the court docket summons. Nevertheless, it returned empty-handed after the PTI chief evaded the arrest.
Subsequently, Imran petitioned the Islamabad periods court docket arguing that the withdrawal of warrants would allow him “a good alternative to seem and defend himself” within the case.
Imran is accused of concealing, in his property declarations, particulars of the items he retained from the Toshakhana — a repository the place presents handed to authorities officers from international officers are saved. Officers are legally allowed to retain items supplied they pay a pre-assessed quantity, usually a fraction of the worth of the present.
Further Periods Choose Zafar Iqbal performed a listening to into the case at the moment.
PTI legal professionals Qaisar Imam, Ali Bukhari, and Barrister Gohar appeared on behalf of the social gathering head.
On the outset of the listening to, Bukhari advised the court docket that his consumer needed to be given a solution to seem in court docket. He stated the PTI chief had at all times applied court docket orders, including that the police couldn’t detain him if he wished to seem earlier than the court docket.
“You can have approached the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom for the cancellation of arrest warrants,” the choose requested the PTI counsel.
The lawyer responded that the authorized group needed to method the periods court docket for the cancellation of warrants.
After the arguments, the choose reserved the decision to be introduced later at the moment.
Imran approaches LHC
Separately, Imran has also approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) for bail in three different cases pertaining to the Toshakhana reference, vandalism at the Islamabad judicial complex and violence outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
However, Dawn.com has learnt that the LHC registrar has raised objections on Imran’s pleas, saying that complete documents had not been submitted along with the petitions.
Toshakhana case
The 70-year-old former prime minister, who has been recovering from a gunshot injury from an assassination attempt in Wazirabad last year, has thrice skipped indictment hearings in an Islamabad sessions court in the case.
Imran was set to be indicted in the Toshakhana Reference on Feb 28, but his lawyer had requested ADSJ Zafar Iqbal that he be exempted from the hearing because he had to appear in several other courts. His indictment was deferred twice before.
The judge had then issued arrest warrants for Imran and adjourned the hearing till March 7.
The reference, which alleges that Imran had not shared details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana (during his time as the prime minister) and proceeds from their reported sales, was filed by lawmakers from the ruling coalition last year. On October 21, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had concluded that the former premier had indeed made “false statements and incorrect declarations” regarding the gifts.
The Toshakhana is a department under the Cabinet Division that stores gifts given to rulers and government officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. According to Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.
The watchdog’s order had said Imran stood disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.
Subsequently, the ECP had approached the Islamabad sessions court with a copy of the reference, seeking proceedings against Imran under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister.
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