A two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court has suspended PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s three-year sentence in the Toshakhana criminal case. The court announced its reserved verdict on the petition on Tuesday, seeking the suspension of a three-year prison sentence in the Toshakhana case.
The written order, released towards the evening, said that ‘deeper appreciation’ of the case is not warranted when the appellant has only asked for a suspension of the sentence.
The order also added that ‘lengthy arguments’ about the merit of the case that were made by both parties whill be left for the time when the case is taken for adjudication.
The judegment has also given weight to the fact that the sentence handed down to Imran Khan is a short one.
“The sentence involved in the instant matter is short, hence we feel that the applicant is entitled to the supension of sentence and be released on bail.”
The high court has ordered the PTI chief to submit worth Rs100,000 surety bond.
Khan’s legal aid Salman Safdar filed a plea at the IHC to bar authorities from arresting the PTI chief in other cases.
Naeem Haider Panjutha, PTI chief’s legal aid, said that the chief justice has accepted the PTI legal team’s request.
While suspending the sentence, he has said that take the detailed decision later,“ he wrote on X.
Khan was arrested on August 5 after a district and sessions court found him guilty of “corrupt practices” in the Toshakhana, state gifts, case. The case pertained to the selling of gifts he received from states when he was the prime minister.
He was slapped with a five-year disqualification and a three-year prison term in the case.
The former prime minister was taken to the Attock Jail, established 100 years ago on the outskirts of historical Attock city, around 60 kilometres (40 miles) west of the capital, Islamabad.
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Better class facilities being provided to Khan in Attock jail, says AGP report
The attorney general for Pakistan’s report on Khan’s condition in Attock Jail showed that he was being kept in better-class facilities in jail. The report, which was formed as per the orders of the Supreme Court, added that the former prime minister was being served his favourite foods. He was being given a rich protein diet, like chicken and mutton, cooked in clarified butter.
The report further mentioned that Khan was allowed to walk in the corridor in front of his cell.
Khan got relief from the Balochistan High Court on Monday when it quashed a sedition case against him.
The written order, a copy of which is available with Aaj News states, “Judicial Magistrate (i), Quetta issued non-bailable warrants petitioner on March 9, 2023, without applying its judicial mind and without determining as to whether it can take cognizance of the offences in absence of any authorization by federal or provincial governments.”
It added that the FIR and the non-bailable arrest warrants of the petitioner were cancelled, as it has been issued without lawful authority and had no legal effect.
