PTI chief moves SC against IHC order in Toshakhana case

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief on Monday approached the Supreme Court to set aside an Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict allowing trial court proceedings into the Toshakhana criminal case.

Read more: SC rejects PTI chief’s plea seeking to halt Toshakhana trial

The appeal, which was filed on behalf of PTI Chairman through his counsel argued the proceedings against his client, already at the final stage at the trial court, would be concluded, if not stayed by the apex court.

In his petition, PTI Chairman contended if the trial is allowed to be completed his appeals before IHC would be rendered ‘infructuous.”

PTI Chairman prayed to the apex court to bar proceedings before Additional District and Sessions Judge, Islamabad, Humayun Dilawar, until a decision on his appeal by the apex court.

The petition also requested an immediate hearing of the case.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had, on October 21 last year, disqualified the former prime minister in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p) of the Consti­tution for making “false state­ments and incorrect declara­tion”. A trial court then, in May this year, rejected the petition of Khan, challenging the main­tainability of the reference. Not only that, but the court also in­dicted the PTI chief, who de­nied all the allegations levelled against him. The PTI chief then challenged the trial court’s de­cision before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which sent the case back to the trial court for re-examination within a span of seven days.