The Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its verdict on a plea submitted by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), challenging his conviction in the Toshakhana case.
Following the District and Sessions Court ruling, the former prime minister was sentenced to a three-year jail term in the same case. The plea was heard by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Jahangiri, who reserved the verdict after considering arguments from both sides.
The PTI founder’s petition in the Islamabad High Court contested the trial court’s decision to end his right to defence in the Toshakhana case. He urged the high court to overturn the trial court’s ruling and reinstate his right to defend himself. The chairman of PTI also requested an immediate hearing of his petition.
The petition follows the August 5 judgment by the District and Sessions Court that found the PTI chairman guilty in the Toshakhana criminal case, leading to a three-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 100,000.
The District and Sessions Court verdict also resulted in the former prime minister being declared ineligible to hold public office for five years. The court found him guilty of corrupt practices, specifically citing that he had knowingly provided false details regarding Toshakhana gifts to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The PTI chairman’s conviction and the subsequent appeal have significant implications for his political career and the political landscape in the country.
