Islamabad High Court rejects PTI chief’s plea seeking immediate suspension of sentence

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday rejected an application filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan seeking instant relief in the Toshakhana case and an immediate suspension of his three-year prison sentence.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that the matter would be fixed for hearing within the next four to five days and the court then proceeded to issue notices to concerned parties.

The former prime minister was arrested and sent to the Attock jail on August 5 hours after an Islamabad trial court sentenced him to three years in prison and fined him Rs100,000 for making false declarations about his assets to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Additional district and sessions judge Humayun Dilawar had also disqualified the PTI chief for five years, apparently ending his prospects for taking part in the upcoming general elections.

A petition challenging a trial court’s verdict in the Toshakhana (state repository) case against the PTI chief was filed on Tuesday by lawyers Khawaja Haris and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on behalf of the former prime minister.

Imran Khan had requested the high court to issue an order for his release by suspending the sentence pending the decision on the central appeal.

PTI lawyer Latif Khosa lamented the haste displayed in the trial court proceedings saying that “this has never happened that an issue was pending at a high court and the trial court pronounced its verdict. This is the equivalent of making a mockery of the judiciary.” The court rejected the request for suspension of the sentence and issued notices at the request of the PTI chief’s legal team. The lawyers also requested the court to fix the matter for a hearing on Thursday (tomorrow). – by our reporter and news agencies