Islamabad: The trial court, which convicted former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) head Imran Khan in the Toshakahna case, “did wrong” in Islamabad, head Justice Aamer Farooq said Friday.
The judge’s statements came during the PTI chief’s appeal of the Toshakhana conviction, which condemned him to three years in prison and a Rs100,000 fine earlier this month.
The request to suspend Khan’s conviction by the trial court’s Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar considered by CJ Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri.
Due to illness, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) legal counsel Amjad Parvez did not appear before the bench today.
His assistant lawyer said, “For the last eight months, we never sought adjournment.”
He stated that physicians advised Parvez bed rest.
Moreover, The IHC chief justice remarked, “The request for suspension of sentence is now at a critical stage.” He claimed that arguments would have taken 15–20 minutes.
Adding, “We can also do what the trial court did, but we will not.”
The PTI questioned the trial court’s verdict, alleging its made hastily without the party president and his counsel.
The court reset the hearing for Monday.
Judge Farooq remarked, “We adjourn the case till Monday, and even if no one comes, we will annouce our decision,” saying the trial court did wrong.
PTI attorney Latif Khosa said: “One individual jailed for 20 days. Will you imprison the PTI chairman for three more days?
“We will not appear in court; do what you must.”
He asked the bench to suspend the sentence today.
“If you agree with their arguments on Monday, send them back to jail,” he said.
The extra district and sessions court sentenced Khan to jail and a Rs100,000 punishment for graft in the Toshakhana case.
After the PTI chief’s detention, the party filed its third petition.
The Supreme Court (SC) heard a petition Wednesday contesting IHC’s decision to remand the matter to the trial court judge who convicted him and noted that the trial court had rushed Toshakhana’s verdict.
It acknowledged Khan’s conviction’s “procedural defects” but awaited the IHC’s ruling on the former premier’s appeal to suspend the three-year term.
