Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has got a big relief from Islamabad High Court. Islamabad High Court has reversed the decision of the lower court and granted him bail. The division bench of Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri gave this much-awaited decision. The division bench had reserved its decision on Monday after hearing the arguments of both the parties on Imran’s petition challenging the lower court’s decision in the case. It is noteworthy that a sessions court in Islamabad had sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party Chairman Imran Khan to three years in jail on August 5 in the Toshakhana corruption case.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s sentence awarded to him in the Toshakhana case, reports Pakistan’s Geo News pic.twitter.com/g7NyO1aIw3
— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2023
It is noteworthy that the Islamabad High Court has given its verdict on Tuesday on the petition requested by former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to suspend his three-year jail sentence in the Toshakhana corruption case. Under which Imran Khan has got bail. Let us tell you, the division bench of Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri had reserved its decision on the petition on Monday after hearing the arguments of both the parties. The division bench had later said that the verdict would be pronounced on Tuesday at 11 am. A sessions court in Islamabad had on August 5 sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, 70, to three years in jail in the Toshakhana corruption case.
Ban on contesting elections!
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran was sentenced after finding him guilty of illegally selling state gifts received by him and his family during his tenure as Prime Minister between 2018 and 2022. The PTI chief was also banned from taking part in political activities for the next five years, due to which he will not be able to contest the upcoming elections. Imran has challenged the lower court’s decision in the Islamabad High Court.
Imran’s lawyer Latif Khosa had completed his arguments against his conviction on Thursday and stressed that the verdict was given very hastily and was full of flaws. He had urged the court to set aside the verdict, but the defense had sought more time to complete its arguments. Many people believe that after the Supreme Court has exposed several flaws in the order convicting Imran, the High Court’s decision may come in favor of the former Prime Minister.
What is Toshakhana case?
Toshakhana is a department under the Cabinet Division, where gifts given to rulers and government officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries are kept. If the ruler or government official wants to keep that gift privately, then he has to pay an amount equal to the value of that gift. Which will be decided through auction. Whatever amount is received in the auction is deposited in the national treasury. In this series, after becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan in the year 2018, Imran Khan had received 58 gifts worth about Rs 14 crore during his official visits. Imran Khan is accused of buying those precious gifts from Toshakhana at a cheap price and selling them in the market at a higher price.
After the removal of Imran Khan from power, the ruling government raised the Toshakhana issue in the National Assembly and demanded action against Imran Khan. Later the Speaker of the Assembly ordered an investigation against Imran Khan. After the framing of charges, Imran Khan also lost his membership in Parliament.
Who is Imran Khan?
The full name of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan is Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi. He is a Pakistani politician. He is also the founder and president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party. Imran Khan was born in 1952 in Lahore, Pakistan. Before being a politician, Imran Khan was a famous Pakistani cricketer, who also made the Pakistani team the world champion in the World Cup. In 2013, he entered Pakistani politics and contested the election for the post of Prime Minister of Pakistan under the PTI flag. In the elections held in 2018, PTI party registered a big victory and Imran Khan was accepted as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Courtesy: Language Input
