The story so far: Pakistan’s government, on July 15, announced its plan to ban Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, for alleged anti-state activities. The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, who lost a vote of no-confidence in 2022 and was ousted from his Prime Ministerial post, has been lodged at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023, in connection with various cases.

In a press conference, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced, “In view of the foreign funding case, the May 9 riots, and the cypher episode as well as the resolution passed in the U.S., we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), banned”.

He added that the government will file cases against Mr. Khan and former Pakistan president Arif Alvi for treason under Article 6. “Our patience and tolerance are considered as our weaknesses. The PTI and Pakistan cannot co-exist as the government is trying to stabilise the country politically and economically, while efforts are being made to thwart its efforts,” Mr. Tarar said. A petition will be filed for the same in Pakistan’s apex court, he added.

The surprising move comes mere days after a 13-judge bench of the country’s Supreme Court ruled that PTI was eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities in the national and provincial assemblies. PTI had approached the apex court after the Peshwar High Court and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had disallowed PTI-backed candidates who had won these reserved seats in the elections held in February.

The PTI, which had been stripped off its iconic ‘bat’ electoral symbol by the ECP, fielded its candidates as independents in the national elections in February. Of the 272 seats in direct contest, PTI-backed Independents won 92 seats, emerging as the largest bloc, but fell short of a majority. With the SC validation of the PTI winners from reserved seats, the bloc, which has now aligned itself with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC,) will be the largest party in the National Assembly with 109 seats.

Here’s a look at why PTI may be banned and what happens next

Why is PTI being banned?

In April 2022, the Opposition coalition led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) moved a vote of no confidence against Imran Khan in the National Assembly, accusing him of corruption, economic mismanagement, depletion of foreign exchange reserves and soaring inflation. Mr. Khan claimed a “foreign conspiracy” was seeking to oust him due to his “independent foreign policy,” saying that a senior U.S. diplomat was involved in it. Then-Speaker Asad Qaiser called for a vote but then-Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri (who is associated with PTI) dismissed the motion on the day of voting, deeming it unconstitutional.

Fearing a trust vote loss, Mr. Khan advised the then-President Arif Alvi to dissolve the Assembly and prepare for fresh polls. This dissolution was termed unconstitutional by the SC and a 13-hour-long trust vote was held, which culminated in Mr. Khan’s ouster as 174 lawmakers of the 342-member Assembly voted in support of the no-confidence motion. Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the PML-N and brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, took over as the Prime Minister.

After Mr. Khan’s ouster, former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S., Asad Majeed, who had authored a cypher sent to Islamabad in 2022, clarified that there was no threat. Mr. Khan had touted this cypher as a base for his claims that a “foreign conspiracy” was trying to topple to his government.

Citing these actions, the current government has decided to move a case against Mr. Khan, Mr. Alvi and Mr. Suri for treason. “You tried to damage the country’s diplomatic relations for the sake of your political interests and went on to get a resolution passed against Pakistan in the U.S,” said Mr. Tarar.

On May 9, 2023, Mr. Khan was arrested in connection with a corruption case while he was appearing in an Islamabad court. His arrest led to deadly riots across Pakistan, with scores of his supporters taking to the streets, vandalising at least a dozen military installations including the ISI building in Faisalabad, and pelting stones at the police. PTI blamed the Pakistan Army for orchestrating his arrest. The Army cracked down heavily on the protestors, arresting them and trying them in military courts.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court deemed Mr. Khan’s arrest illegal, giving him temporary relief. His reprieve was short-lived, as police arrested Mr. Khan in Lahore after he was sentenced to a three-year jail term for illegally selling state gifts.

Mr. Khan has been also charged for leaking state secrets by publicising the cypher communication between the government and the embassy. In total, Mr. Khan faces a hundred cases; he has been convicted and acquitted in some cases, and been barred from contesting elections for five years.

The current government has used these cases as the bulwark of its decision to ban PTI and charge Mr. Khan and top PTI leaders with treason. It claims that the riots and the attempts by several PTI leaders to sabotage Pakistan’s deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has forced its hand.

What are the reactions?

The decision to ban PTI has been criticised by parties across the political spectrum.

Accusing the government of punishing the PTI for being declared as the largest party in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Omar Ayub Khan claimed that the government wanted to scare 240 million people through coercion, intimidation and harassment, according to Dawn report.

Asserting that PTI was not one to be intimated, he said that it would not be possible to crush the most popular political party with blind force nor could any positive outcome be expected from it.

Similarly, PPP, a coalition partner of PML-N, has distanced itself from the move, claiming its leadership was not consulted. PPP veteran Mian Raza Rabbani said that the banning of a political party by the government was against all norms of democracy. “Since the country is already facing grave economic and political instability, such a step will add political chaos and bog down the economy,” said Mr. Rabbani in a statement, adding, “The step of banning a political party in Pakistan’s history has always been unsuccessful and been thrown into the dustbin of history.”

Other political parties like Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, and Jamaat-i-Islami too have rubbished the move, terming it ‘childish’ and ‘unconstitutional’ and saying that the move will not stand in court. Even the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has criticised the decision, say that it ‘reeks of political desperation.’

The US State department has maintained that while it opposes such restrictions, the announcement to ban PTI was part of a ‘complex political process,’ reported Dawn. “As those internal processes continue to play out, we will monitor these decisions and any further decisions,” said its spokesperson. India has not yet released any statement on this issue.

Precedent to political parties’ ban in Pakistan

Since its formation in 1947, democracy in Pakistan has been interspersed with Army regimes. However, even when a democratically elected government has been in power, political parties have faced bans, finds an analysis by Dawn.

In 1954, the Communist Party of Pakistan was banned for its alleged involvement in a military coup planned by Major General Akbar Khan to topple the first government in independent Pakistan headed by Liaquat Ali Khan.

The Awami League, a breakaway Bengali faction of the All India Muslim League formed in 1954, steadily gained popularity in East Pakistan and swept all but two seats in the 1970 elections. The military government headed by General Yahya Khan banned the party, leading to protests, war, genocide and eventually the birth of Bangladesh.

Two parties — Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and the Awami National Party — which are still in existence, have seen factions being banned.

The National Awami Party, founded in 1957, first faced a ban in 1958 when General Ayub Khan imposed martial law. Once the ban was lifted in 1962, it splintered into factions, with the NAP-Wali emerging as the biggest one. In 1975, the PPP government led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto banned the parent party NAP for backing Baloch separatists. Its faction NAP-Wali re-emerged as the Awami National Party (ANP) and is now in alliance with the PPP.

JSQM’s faction led by Abdul Wahid Aresar was banned in 2020 by the Imran Khan government for its alleged links with Sindh separatist militant outfits – Sindhu Desh Revolution Army (SRA) and Sindhu Desh Liberation Army (SLA) – who routinely carried out attacks on military personnel, police etc.

Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), founded in 2015, is one of the recent outfits to be banned due to its violent protests and blatant support for Mumtaz Qadri – an commando who assassinated former Punjab governor Salman Taseer. While it was initially banned in April 2021, the ban was lifted by the Imran Khan government in October 2021 after its protests ground Islamabad to a halt. The party’s popularity has diminished after its founder Khadim Rizvi died.

What will be PTI’s fate?

In the wake of backlash by several of its alliance partners, the PML-N leadership has toned out its attack on PTI. A senior PML-N leader has clarified that no final decision has been made regarding a permanent ban on PTI, reported Dawn.

“We need to consult our leadership and allies in this regard. Any decision to ban PTI will be made in accordance with the law and Constitution,” said Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. As per Pakistan Constitution’s Article 17, the final decision to ban a political party rests with the Supreme Court.

“The Supreme Court is unlikely to ratify a ban on the PTI as it has already declared PTI as a political party,” says geopolitical analyst Aishwaria Sonavane. Noting the popularity Mr. Khan currently enjoys, she adds, “A ban will only foment public sympathy for Imran Khan. Also bans have proven futile in eliminating public support and will lead to further political instability”.

While Mr. Khan’s political future hangs in the balance due to his legal troubles, PTI’s future as a political force seems stronger. With the recent favourable SC rulings and Pakistan’s own historical failure to snuff out political parties completely, it seems that PTI’s vast public support will help in its continued existence as PTI or as another political party – similar to the ANP.

Islamabad:

Pakistan’s leading right-wing Islamic leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday came out in support of his erstwhile rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, saying the opposition party has the right to hold rallies and even form a government.

Rehman, the chief of his faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), made a blistering speech in the National Assembly, slamming the powerful establishment for allegedly rigging the political system.

“It is the right of the PTI to hold a rally,” he said. “We also objected to the 2018 election and we object to this (February 8 polls) one too. If the 2018 poll was rigged, why is the current one not rigged?” he asked.

PTI leader Asad Qaiser had demanded the party’s right to organise a rally. “The demand of Asad Qaiser is correct and it is the right of PTI to hold a rally,” Rehman said in his speech.

Rehman urged the ruling coalition of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Peoples Party to allow the PTI to form the government if it enjoyed a majority in the parliament.  

“Leave this power. Come and sit here [on the opposition benches], and if the PTI is indeed the larger group, then give them the government,” he said.

The cleric then expressed his dismay over the role of the establishment and bureaucracy in election and running the country.

“The establishment and bureaucracy had no role in achieving this country,” he said.

He alleged that the elections held on Feb 8 were not fair but flawed.

“What kind of election is this where the losers are not satisfied and the winners are upset?” he said.

He drew parallels with neighbouring India. “Just compare India and ourselves… both countries got independence on the same day. But today they (India) are dreaming of becoming a superpower and we are begging to avoid bankruptcy,” he said.

While India is inching closer to become a Global Superpower, Pakistan is begging before the world to save it from devastation.

[Pakistan’s Parliament] pic.twitter.com/i3ZNA3kQaN

— kanishka Dadhich (@KanishkaDadhich) April 29, 2024

He said that decisions are made by somebody else but politicians are blamed for the problems.

Rehman also lamented the failure to implement recommendations from the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), emphasising the importance of upholding Islamic principles.

“We got the country in the name of Islam, but today we have become a secular state. Since 1973, not a single recommendation of the CII has been implemented. How can we be an Islamic country?” he said.

The CCI is a constitutional body set up to help Islamize the laws.

He also said that Pakistan was begging the International Monetary Fund to avoid bankruptcy.

pic.twitter.com/KGHZhhVB18

— Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman (@MoulanaOfficial) April 29, 2024

The JUI-F was the arch-rival of PTI and had spearheaded the move for the ouster of Imran Khan. After his downfall, JUI-F became part of the coalition government. However, he parted ways with the PML-N and PPP after the elections as he alleged that the polls were rigged to keep his party out of power.

It is believed by many that by supporting the PTI, the cleric is putting pressure on the establishment and the government to cut a deal to get a bigger share in the spoils of politics than his potential.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Islamabad:

Three-time Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return home on Saturday after four years of self-imposed exile, primed to make a political comeback ahead of elections. The South Asian nation is facing overlapping security, economic and political crises ahead of polls already pushed back to January 2024, with Sharif’s primary opponent, the fiercely popular Imran Khan, languishing in jail.

“This is a time for hope and celebration. His return bodes well for Pakistan’s economy and its people,” said Khawaja Muhammad Asif, a senior leader of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.

Sharif has spent the past several days in Dubai, and will fly from there to the capital Islamabad, then on to Lahore, where his supporters will gather for a welcome home rally, his party has said.

His return has been touted for months by the PML-N, whose leaders hope Sharif’s political clout and “man of the soil” swagger will revive its flagging popularity. 

However, the former leader has a conviction for graft and an unfinished prison sentence hanging over him.

Earlier this week, the Islamabad High Court granted protective bail to Sharif until Tuesday, removing the threat of immediate arrest when he lands back in the country. 

Sharif has been prime minister three times, but was ousted in 2017 and given a lifetime disqualification from politics after being convicted of corruption.

He served less than a year of a seven-year sentence before getting permission to seek medical care in the United Kingdom, ignoring subsequent court orders to return during former prime minister Imran Khan’s government.

His fortunes changed when his brother Shehbaz Sharif came to power last year and his government oversaw changes to the law, including limiting the disqualification of lawmakers from contesting elections to five years.

Sharif’s return has likely been smoothed by a deal between the military establishment and his party to prevent significant legal hurdles, said analyst Zahid Hussain.

“There was some sort of arrangement with the military establishment; without that he wouldn’t have decided to come back,” he told AFP.

Often draped in a red Gucci scarf, Sharif has seen his political fortunes rise and fall on his relationship with Pakistan’s powerful military establishment — the country’s true kingmakers.

Politicians in Pakistan are often tangled in legal proceedings that rights monitors say are orchestrated by the powerful military, which has ruled the country directly for more than half of its history and continues to enjoy immense power.

Fans call him “the Lion of Punjab”, the eastern and most populous province where his support is strongest, and he is known to parade big cats at extravagant political events drumming up support.

But he faces the tough task of winning over an electorate weary of dynastic politics and a young population that has been captured by Khan’s social-media-savvy party. 

“Sharif’s key challenge is first to establish himself and his party as viable options to replace Imran Khan, who is already popular, and secondly to turn around the economy,” said political analyst Ayesha Siddiqa.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

File photo of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. A special court on August 30, 2023 extended the judicial remand of Mr. Khan till September 13.
| Photo Credit: PTI

A special court on Wednesday (August 30) extended till September 13 the judicial remand of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in a case related to the alleged disclosure of state secrets.

Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, who arrived at Attock jail in Punjab to conduct the hearing, issued the decision in the case of the missing cipher, a classified state document that Mr. Khan had waved during a political rally ahead of his ouster from office last year.

The hearing of the case took place at the Attock District Jail following approval by the Law Ministry amid security concerns expressed by the Interior Ministry.

Authorities decided on Tuesday to hold the hearing of the case inside the Attock district jail where Mr. Khan has been kept since August 5 after his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case.

Mr. Khan’s sentence was suspended by a two-member Bench of the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday, but he was not allowed to walk free, as the judge hearing the cipher case ordered to keep him in prison and produce him for hearing.

According to Geo News report, Judge Zulqernain extended judicial remand till September 13, meaning that Mr. Khan will remain in jail.

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 29 slammed Supreme Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial for “favouring” Imran Khan, saying his messages to the lower courts led to the suspension of the sentence of the former Premier and called the verdict a “dark chapter” in the country’s history.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 29 suspended Mr. Khan’s three-year sentence in the Toshakhana corruption case and ordered his release from jail, in a major relief to the former Pakistan Prime Minister. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was sentenced on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts acquired by him and his family during his 2018-2022 tenure.

A Division Bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri announced the much-anticipated verdict which was reserved on August 28. Separately, a three-member Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Bandial and comprising Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail is also set to resume hearing petitions against the Toshakhana case.

Taking to microblogging site X, formerly Twitter, Mr. Sharif said that the IHC had been influenced by the Supreme Court’s leniency toward the PTI chief.

Taking an indirect jibe at Mr. Khan, Mr. Sharif said, “The ‘favourite’s’ sentence has been suspended, not terminated.” “Chief Justice’s message of “Good to see you” and “Wishing you good luck” reached Islamabad High Court. If everyone knows what the decision will be before the decision comes, it should be a moment of concern for the justice system,” the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president said, slamming the court for suspending Mr. Khan’s sentence.

The former Premier further said that when a “clear message” was received from the higher judiciary, the subordinate court would follow suit.

On Wednesday, the apex court, after hearing various petitions against the Toshakhana case, observed that there were “shortcomings” in the judgment of the sessions court.

The panel observed that the verdict was given in haste and without giving the right of defence to the accused. “Prima facie, there are shortcomings in the trial court verdict,” the Chief Justice said.

The Supreme Court had also stated it would wait for the IHC hearing before giving its judgment. It resumed the hearing Thursday but adjourned it without fixing any date after it was told that the IHC was holding a hearing.

Asking why lenience was not extended to his brother and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Mr. Shehbaz Sharif said, “A monitoring judge was appointed to ensure Nawaz Sharif’s punishment, [and now] the chief justice himself [has become] a monitoring judge to save the ‘favourite’.” “This role of the justice system will be written as the dark chapter of history. Scales tilted to one side, and a justice system that undermines justice are not acceptable,” he said, adding that the law was powerless before those who “sold the watches”.

According to the details of an official inquiry, Mr. Khan allegedly earned ₹36 million by illegally selling three watches gifted to him by foreign dignitaries to a local watch dealer during his tenure as Prime Minister.

“If thieves and state terrorists are facilitated, where will the common man get justice in the country?” Mr. Sharif asked.

Alleging undue leniency by the country’s courts to Mr. Khan, Mr. Sharif said, “Be it May 9, be it an attack on the judicial complex, be it raining petrol bombs on the police, everything is forgiven.” Pakistan saw massive nationwide anti-government protests following the arrest of Mr. Khan by paramilitary Rangers in a corruption case on May 9. Mr. Khan was later released on bail.

Dozens of military installations and government buildings, including the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore and the military headquarters in Rawalpindi, were damaged or torched during the riots. Over 100 vehicles of police and other security agencies were set on fire.

Following the violent protests, law enforcement agencies arrested over 10,000 PTI workers across Pakistan, 4,000 of them from Punjab Province only.

The Toshakhana case was filed by ruling party lawmakers in 2022 in the ECP, alleging that Mr. Khan concealed the proceeds from the sale of state gifts.

The ECP first disqualified Mr. Khan and then filed a case of criminal proceedings in a sessions court which convicted him, and subsequently, Mr. Khan was sent to jail.

Mr. Khan is currently in Attock Jail following his arrest from his Lahore home.

The case alleges that Mr. Khan had “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana — a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept — during his time as the Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 and proceeds from their reported sales.

As per Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.

According to reports, Mr. Khan received 58 gifts worth more than ₹140 million from world leaders during his three-and-a-half-year stint and retained all of them either by paying a negligible amount or even without any payment.

The Islamabad High Court on August 29 suspended Imran Khan’s three-year sentence in the Toshakhana corruption case and ordered his release from jail, in a major relief to Pakistan’s embattled former Prime Minister ahead of the upcoming general elections.

A Division Bench comprising Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri announced the much-anticipated verdict which was reserved on August 28.

“Decision of District Court [has been] suspended by IHC,” Mr. Khan’s party — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — said in a short WhatsApp message.

The court said that a copy of the judgment will be available shortly.

“The copy of the judgment will be available shortly … all we are saying now is that [Imran’s] request has been approved,” Justice Farooq said.

The Bench also ordered to release the 70-year-old leader on the production of surety bonds worth Pakistani rupees 100,000.

Mr. Khan’s legal counsel Naeem Haider Panjotha posted on X, formerly Twitter: “The CJ has accepted our request, suspended the sentence and said a detailed decision would be provided later.” Mr. Khan’s sentence has been suspended but he was not being released as a special court holding his trial in the Official Secrets Act directed the Attock Jail authorities to keep him in the “judicial lockup” and produce him on August 30 before the court in connection with the cipher case.

Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is already in custody in the same case.

The case launched last week alleged that Khan and others were involved in the violation of the secret laws of the country.

The Bench reserved the verdict on August 28 after the rival lawyers concluded their arguments on the suspension of the conviction and three-year sentence handed down to Mr. Khan by Additional District and Session Judge, Islamabad, Humayun Dilawar on August 5 — a move that barred him from contesting general elections.

The former cricketer-turned-politician was sentenced on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts acquired by him and his family during his 2018-2022 tenure. He was also barred from politics for five years, preventing him from contesting an upcoming election.

General elections are scheduled to be held in Pakistan within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly, which was prematurely dissolved on August 10 by President Arif Alvi. However, the polls are likely be delayed as the government has announced that the elections could take place only after a new census was completed and new constituency boundaries drawn.

The exercise could take about four months to complete and means that polls may be delayed till next year.

The government’s announcement had come on the same day when Mr. Khan was arrested after being sentenced to three years in prison for “corrupt practices”.

Mr. Khan challenged his conviction within days and the IHC began a formal hearing on August 22. It adjourned the case on Friday after the lawyer representing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not appear due to illness.

Mr. Khan’s lawyer Latif Khosa completed his argument on Thursday, asserting that the verdict was given in haste and was full of shortcomings. He urged the court to set aside the sentence but the defence team demanded more time to complete its arguments.

His party welcomed the IHC verdict, with party Information Secretary Raoof Hasan saying that Mr. Khan’s arrest in any other case after the suspension of his sentence in the Toshakhana case would be “ill-intentioned and mala fide”.

We are fortunate to be witnessing the re-scripting of Pakistan’s political and legal history,” he said, adding that “justice shall prevail”.

However, former premier Shehbaz Sharif expressed its displeasure at the court’s order saying that the sentence was suspended and “not terminated”.

“The Chief Justice of Pakistan’s message of ’good to see you’ and ‘wish you good luck’ has reached the IHC,” he said, claiming that “everyone knew about the verdict before it was even announced”.

“This moment is a matter of concern for our justice system,” Mr. Shehbaz Sharif said. “If a clear message is received from the higher judiciary, what else should the subordinate court do?” Separately, a three-member Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail is also set to resume hearing petitions against the Toshakhana case.

On Wednesday, the apex court after hearing various petitions against the Toshakhana case observed that there were “shortcomings” in the judgment of the sessions court.

The panel observed that the verdict was given in haste and without giving the right of defence to the accused. “Prima facie, there are shortcomings in the trial court verdict,” the Chief Justice said.

The apex court had also stated it would wait for the IHC hearing before giving its judgment. It resumed the hearing on Thursday but adjourned it without fixing any date after it was told that the IHC was holding a hearing.

The Toshakhana case was filed by ruling party lawmakers in 2022 in the ECP, alleging that Mr. Khan concealed the proceeds from the sale of state gifts.

The ECP first disqualified Mr. Khan and then filed a case of criminal proceedings in a sessions court which convicted him and subsequently, Khan was sent to jail.

Mr. Khan is currently in Attock Jail following his arrest from his Lahore home.

The case alleges that Mr. Khan had “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana — a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept — during his time as the Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 and proceeds from their reported sales.

As per Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.

According to reports, Mr. Khan received 58 gifts worth more than ₹140 million from world leaders during his three-and-a-half-year stint and retained all of them either by paying a negligible amount or even without any payment.

Pakistan’s former High Minister Imran Khan was once sentenced on fees of unlawfully promoting surrounding items received by means of him and his population right through his 2018-2022 tenure. Report
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

The Islamabad Top Courtroom on August 28 reserved its verdict on former Pakistan High Minister Imran Khan’s plea searching for the postponed of his three-year prison time period within the Toshakhana corruption case.

A section bench comprising Islamabad Top Courtroom (IHC) Prominent Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri reserved the decision then listening to each events’ counsels.

The bench then stated that the reserved judgment can be introduced at 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday.

Right through his arguments, the Election Fee of Pakistan’s (ECP) recommend Amjad Pervaiz prompt the IHC to factor a understand to the surrounding to form it a respondent within the case as, he stated, the legislation made it essential, Daybreak newspaper reported.

When Pervaiz concluded his arguments, Khan’s attorney Latif Khosa stated he didn’t have any objections to the ECP recommend’s plea to factor a understand to the surrounding.

Due to this fact, the courtroom reserved its verdict at the case.

An ordeal courtroom had convicted and sentenced the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman to 3 years in jail on August 5 within the case.

Khan was once sentenced on fees of unlawfully promoting surrounding items received by means of him and his population right through his 2018-2022 tenure. He has additionally been barred from politics for 5 years, fighting him from contesting an after election.

The IHC bench had adjourned the listening to on Friday then the attorney representing the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP) Amjad Pervez failed to seem because of infection.

Khan’s attorney Latif Khosa finished his argument towards the conviction on Thursday, saying that the decision was once given in haste and filled with shortcomings.

He prompt the courtroom to put aside the sentence however the defence group demanded extra occasion to finish its arguments.

Many imagine {that a} beneficial ruling for Khan would possibly come then the Excellent Courtroom highlighted faults within the judgment convicting Khan.

Latter past, the Excellent Courtroom stated “procedural defects” in Khan’s conviction however watch for the IHC determination at the former high minister’s plea.

The case was once introduced endmost yr in October at the criticism of the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP) which had previous disqualified Khan in the similar case.

Upcoming a listening to spanning over months, Pass judgement on Humayun Dilawar of the Islamabad-based periods courtroom on August 5 awarded a three-year sentence to Khan for hiding the proceeds he were given from the sale of surrounding items.

Khan inside days challenged the conviction within the Islamabad Top Courtroom (IHC), searching for to droop his sentence and tumble the judgment.

The courtroom held the preliminary listening to on August 22 however adjourned the instances until August 24 then ECP attorney Pervez failed to show up. Khan’s recommend Suggest Khosa had expressed his dissatisfaction with the courtroom, pronouncing he would no longer seem on the after listening to.

Due to this fact, IHC Prominent Justice Farooq, who was once presiding over the listening to and in whom the PTI well-known has expressed a shortage of self assurance, had asserted he would come to a decision at the subject on Monday “even if no one appears”.

One by one, a three-member Excellent Courtroom panel led by means of Prominent Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail was once additionally listening to petitions towards the Toshakhana case.

The Excellent Courtroom held a temporary listening to on Thursday and adjourned the case with remarks that it could watch for the result of the listening to within the IHC.

The Toshakhana case was once filed by means of ruling celebration lawmakers in 2022 within the ECP, alleging that Khan non-transperant the proceeds from the sale of surrounding items.

The ECP first disqualified Khan and after filed a case of prison lawsuits in a periods courtroom which convicted him and due to this fact, Khan was once despatched to prison.

Khan is lately in Attock Prison following his arrest from his Lahore house The case alleges that Khan had “deliberately concealed” main points of the items he retained from the Toshaskhana – a repository the place items passed to executive officers from overseas officers are stored – right through his occasion because the high minister from 2018 to 2022 and proceeds from their reported gross sales.

As consistent with Toshakhana regulations, items/items and alternative such fabrics won by means of individuals to whom those regulations practice will likely be reported to the Cupboard Section.

In step with experiences, Khan won 58 items significance greater than Rs 140 million from global leaders right through his three-and-a-half-year stint and retained they all both by means of paying a minute quantity and even with none cost.