The Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Islamabad High Court met almost simultaneously to hear petitions from PTI Chief Imran Khan against his sentencing in the Toshakhana case on Thursday. However, the day went by without immediate relief for the former prime minister.

The Supreme Court has sought a report on the condition of PTI chief in his jail cell by Monday while the Islamabad High Court adjourned for a day.

The Supreme Court’s order, released later in the day, said that it would be appropriate to wait until the high court issued its order in the case. However, the SC also asked the attorney general to submit a report of the conditions Imran Khan was being kept in the Attock Jail. The report is to be submitted by Monday, August 28.

The Islamabad High Court heard a petition from PTI Chief Imran Khan, challenging his conviction in the Toshakhana criminal case and seeking suspension of the three-year jail sentence. It opened the hearing at 12pm and listened from lawyers until after 3:30pm. The court will meet again on Friday.

A three-member Supreme Court bench met at 2pm and noted that the Islamabad High Court was hearing the petition from Khan.

The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Umat Ata Bandial had ordered the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday to hear Khan’s petition on Thursday, with judges saying that if nothing happened at the high court, they would pass an order.

The bench had also said that the Islamabad sessions court judgement in the Toshakhana case was flawed. It said it would meet again at 2pm on Thursday depending on what decision is given by the Islamabad High Court.

The apex court with its observation on Wednesday left PTI supporters hopeful of a positive outcome for their leader.

Islamabad High Court

When the hearing began at the Islamabad High Court on Thursday, Justice Aamir Farooq said the court had just received the Supreme Court order.

Latif Khosa told the court he is representing Imran Khan after Khawaja Haris decided to quit Khan’s legal team earlier in the day.

Khosa said he wanted to present arguments against the sentence and about the jurisdiction of the court.

But he also said that after the president commuted the sentence of all prisoners in the country, Khan’s sentence had already been reduced by six months.

The Election of Pakistan lawyer Amjad Pervaiz said that other people had been sentenced to longer terms in the same case.

The court heard from counsels until 3:30pm and decided to meet again on Friday. Pervaiz sought a longer delay, on the account of Friday prayers.

Justice Farooq, however, said that the court will meet at 11am on Friday.

Supreme Court hearing

The Supreme Court of Pakistan opened the hearing at 2pm with CJP Bandial saying that he had learned that the IHC was still hearing the issue.

The top judge suggested the apex court should wait for the IHC decision on Khan’s petition and postponed the hearing.

Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan were also present in the courtroom.

The court said it would meet again as soon as the IHC passed an order, but after the IHC postponed the hearing, the top court issued a written order in the evening, seeking a report on Khan’s condition by Monday.

Lawyer murder case

Separately, a Supreme Court bench that was set to hear a case against Imran Khan at 11am postponed the the hearing until after summer vacations when the lawyer representing the complainant failed to show up.

The PTI chief faces charges in the murder of a lawyer in Quetta.

In the fourth case, the Lahore High Court was set to hear petitions from Imran Khan challenging the court orders to cancel his bail in ATC cases.

Dim chances of Khan winning freedom

When the Supreme Court of Pakistan observed on Wednesday that the judgement that led to Khan’s conviction and sentencing in the Toshakhana criminal case was flawed, PTI supporters saw a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel.

However, only a few hours later an anti-terrorism court allowed the Joint Investigation Team probing May 9 violence to arrest Imran Khan in the Jinnah House attack case.

Jinnah House is also the Lahore Corp Commander House and it was ransacked on May 9 by violent protesters.

More to follow