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

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman’s petition seeking to stay trial court proceedings in the Toshakhana case.

A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Yahya Afridi and  Justice Mussarat Hilali heard the case on Wednesday and maintained that it  would not be proper to interfere with the proceedings of the trial court.

Justice Afridi said IHC should hear Imran Khan’s appeal and other applications related to the Toshakhana case.

The court said it would not interfere with the proceedings of the trial court in the case.

Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer, Amjad Pervaiz told the SC after IHC remanded the case back to the trial court, a re-trial was conducted and the case was declared maintainable.

Amjad Pervaiz said the PTI chairman has challenged the declaration of maintainability again before IHC which would be hearing the case tomorrow.

Khawaja Haris, counsel for PTI chairman told SC that they had requested for the transfer of case to another judge before IHC.

Requesting a one-day stay before the IHC hearing tomorrow, Khawaja Haris told SC that his client has been summoned the trial court for recording his statement under Section 342.

Read more: IHC reserves verdict on ‘maintainability’ of Toshakhana case

The request was declined as Justice Musarrat Hilali asked “How can we issue directions to the trial court?”

The court disposed the case.