Islamabad: The legal saga surrounding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s conviction in the Toshakhana case continues as a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) is scheduled to hear his petition on August 22. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooque and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri will preside over the hearing. Khan challenged the trial court’s verdict and sentence in the Toshakhana case, requesting the court declare the judgement “illegal”.
In August 2023, Khan was imprisoned for three years and fined Rs100,000 by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar. The judge found Khan guilty of graft in the Toshakhana case, leading to his five-year disqualification. The petition filed by Khan seeks to overturn the conviction on various grounds, citing legal misdirection and lack of evidence.
One of the central points of contention raised in the petition is that the judgement is “totally misdirected”. The petition argues that the prosecution failed to meet its burden of proof against Khan and that the verdict is unjustified under the law. Additionally, Khan’s legal team contends that the judge’s decision was based on “hyper-technical” and “misreading” grounds.
The petition also alleges that the trial was unfair and the verdict was predetermined, pointing out that the judge seemingly dictated over 35 pages constituting the judgement in just 30 minutes. This has raised concerns about the due process and fairness of the trial proceedings.
The Toshakhana case revolves around allegations that Khan misused his position as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022 to buy and sell gifts received during visits abroad. The skills, worth over Rs140 million ($635,000), were reportedly acquired at low costs and sold in the open market for significant profits. The controversy centres on Toshakhana, where government officials can retain gifts of low value or pay a reduced fee to keep extravagant items.
Among the items mentioned in the case were valuable wristwatches, including Rolex watches and a “Master Graff limited edition” watch valued at 85 million Pakistani rupees ($385,000). The allegations have sparked debate about ethics and transparency in government officials’ handling of gifts and assets.
Khan’s legal team asserts that the trial judge’s verdict was based on hyper-technical arguments and lacked substantial evidence. They argue that the judge failed to properly consider pertinent matters, such as Khan’s accountant’s explanation of the acquisition costs of the gifts.
The appeal also raises concerns about the fairness of the trial and alleges that the verdict was predetermined, highlighting the judge’s rapid dictation of the judgement shortly after the proceedings. This has led to accusations of bias and a lack of due process.
As the legal battle unfolds, the upcoming hearing before the IHC is anticipated to shed light on the intricacies of the Toshakhana case and its implications for Imran Khan’s legal status. The result of the appeal will likely have a significant impact on Khan and broader discussions about accountability, transparency, and the rule of law in Pakistan.
As the legal process continues, observers and stakeholders will closely follow the proceedings to assess how the court addresses the points raised in Khan’s appeal and whether it ultimately leads to reversing the conviction or reaffirming the initial judgement. The case remains a focal point for discussions about governance, accountability, and the interface between law and politics in Pakistan’s evolving landscape.