Islamabad [Pakistan], August 5 (ANI): A Pakistan district and sessions court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan for three years in prison in the Toshakhana case i.e. for illegally selling state gifts and he has been disqualified him from politics for a period of five years, local media reported. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on the PTI chief, Geo News reported.
Khan was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore soon after being convicted in the Toshakhana case today, Geo News reported. Dawn reported that during the hearing today, presided by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar, the trial court ruled that charges against the former prime minister in the case were proven. “Imran Khan deliberately submitted fake details [of Toshakhana gifts] to the ECP and is found guilty of corrupt practices,” he stated and sent the PTI chief to jail for three years under Section 174 of the Election Act.
Ahead of today’s proceedings, a large contingent of police was deployed outside the court premises with only lawyers allowed inside the courtroom. The development comes after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday set aside the session court’s verdict on the Toshakhana reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman as maintainable and ordered the lower court to rehear the case.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on August 2 deferred the indictment of former Pakistan PM in the Toshakhana case, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. Earlier on July 3, Imran Khan had lashed out at the Shehbaz Sharif government, alleging that the administration has “made a plan” to put him in jail and the whole episode that transpired over his arrest was “pre-planned”.
Giving clarification over the allegations in the Toshakhana case, Khan claimed that the gifts were sold “as per the rules” and everything has been declared in FDR. “As per the law, when PM, President, Army Chief receives gifts, it goes to Toshakhana, where it is valued. It is done through an FDR, with an initial value and then an appraisal. If there are any excess value, they give the option of purchasing. This is the rule. Under this I took many gifts and refused others. Whatever I sold, is declared in FBR and is under capital gains tax. What is wrong here? Also, under this case, NAB, Election Commission and FIR is also filed. It is just not possible that three cases are being run on the same issue,” he had then said.
The case pertains to the allegations that the former PM “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana — a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept — during his time as the prime minister and proceeds from their reported sales.
The Toshakhana case registered by ruling party lawmakers is based on a criminal complaint filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), as per the Dawn report. As per the Toshakhana rules, gifts and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules are applicable shall be reported to the Cabinet Division. Notably, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has faced a number of legal cases over his retention of gifts. He has also been disqualified by the electoral body over the issue.
On May 9, this year, former PM and PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from inside the High Court in Islamabad by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the charges of corruption in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust, which he owns alongside his wife, Bushra Bibi. Following Khan’s arrest, his party called for demonstrations, which turned violent at many places. The administration resorted to crackdown and many arrests were made across the country. The people accused in the May 9 violence are being tried at military courts. (ANI)
“PTI will use its right to challenge decision”: Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Imran Khan’s arrest
Islamabad [Pakistan], August 5 (ANI): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday rejected the party’s chairman Imran Khan‘s conviction in the Toshakhana case and said that PTI will use its right to challenge the decision by approaching the judiciary, Pakistan-based Geo News reported. Shah Mehmood Qureshi has called the court’s verdict “politically motivated” and “state-sanctioned.” His statement comes after a Pakistan district and sessions court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on the PTI chief, Geo News reported. Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore soon after being convicted in the Toshakhana case today. He said, “PTI will use its right to challenge the decision by knocking on the doors of the higher judiciary.” He further said, “We will defend Imran Khan with all legal means, he said, while further adding that we will opt for all the legal ways to defend him,” according to Geo News.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the party’s core committee will announce its next line of action after the meeting. He said that he was “deeply hurt” after hearing the court’s decision.
Qureshi said, “If justice is being served then it should also be seen as being served. However, it is the other way round. We went to higher judiciary but we were not provided a chance to represent and defend ourselves.” He said that they will approach the doors of the judiciary and stressed that the nation is watching. Speaking to Geo TV, Qureshi said, “I reject the court’s verdict and believe it is a politically motivated and predetermined decision which was already expected,” Geo News reported.
He further said, “Chairman Imran Khan had already been saying that the judiciary has made up its to arrest me. Quoting PTI chairman Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “They are determined to disqualify me which was already indicated in Khan’s public speeches.”
Qureshi raised his concerns over the arrest of his party chairman and asked the judiciary whether 70-year-old Khan was offered a fair trial. Quoting Constitution’s Article 10(1) which stipulates, “Every citizen will be given justice,” he asked whether this criterion was used during Khan’s trial.
He further said, “The criteria of justice which is impartiality, and adequate representation, presenting witnesses before the jury, were all these provided to his party head?” He asked whether there is anyone in the judiciary except Justice Humayun Dilawal who can fulfil the “requirements of justice?”
Shah Mehmood Qureshi stressed, “The cases were repeatedly sent to the trial court with expectations that similar verdicts will be issued,” as per the Geo News report. He said that Imran Khan has already expressed his mistrust and “indicated that the judiciary’s mind is made up was it not the requirement of justice that the judge recuse himself?”
Senior PTI leader asked why the decision was taken in such haste and announced during the weekends, according to Geo News. He called it a cause of concern that police came to Zaman Park to arrest Imran Khan after the news of the verdict was announced on Television. He asked whether the police were already informed about “the nature and the decision.” (ANI)
