Toshakhana case: PTI chief granted one-day exemption

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreeek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was granted a one-day exemption from appearing in the Toshakhana case by a trial court in Islamabad on Saturday.

The bench headed by Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar was hearing a case against Khan filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding alleged concealment of details about state gifts.

Read More: Court accepts PTI chief’s exemption plea in Toshakhana case

According to The Express Tribune, the defendant’s lawyer, Barrister Gohar Ali, submitted the plea for exemption, requesting the court to adjourn proceedings until Monday. As a result, Khan was directed to appear before the court on July 24 (Monday).

Meanwhile, the ECP’s lawyer, Amjad Pervaiz, objected to the plea, arguing that no reasons were provided for the absence from the court, and said that the accused should be present during the trial.

Advocate Pervaiz told the court that the PTI chief had been summoned by the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday. He requested the court to direct the former PM to submit an affidavit committing to appear for the proceedings in the case after his hearing before the apex court.

As per The Express Tribune, during the hearing, Judge Dilawar expressed annoyance at an objection raised by one of the PTI chief’s lawyers about daily hearings.

He said that the defendant’s exemption pleas had consistently been accepted despite his non-appearance before the court.

The judge also directed Khan to ensure his presence in court after his appearance before the SC and adjourned the proceedings until Monday.

During the previous hearing, held the day before, the court recorded the statements of two prosecution witnesses, and it was expected that the PTI chief’s lawyer, Khawaja Haris, would begin cross-examination on the next date.

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

Meanwhile the PTI chief’s attempt to obtain immediate relief from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and secure a stay on the trial was unsuccessful. Instead, the IHC issued a notice on the injunction request and adjourned the hearing until the next week.