The Supreme Court of Pakistan declined a request to expedite the hearing of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s appeal against his conviction in the Toshakhana case during the winter vacation period.
Imran Khan’s plea, which sought an immediate hearing regarding suspending his conviction, was rejected by the Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, due to the unavailability of a suitable three-member bench during the court’s winter recess. The hearing is now scheduled after the winter vacation.
The former prime minister was sentenced to three years in prison on August 5 by a trial court following his conviction in the Toshakhana graft case. Consequently, under the Elections Act, the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified him for five years.
Despite the Islamabad High Court suspending the sentence on August 28, his conviction and disqualification remained in effect. Seeking further legal recourse, the PTI founder later approached the Islamabad High Court to amend its August 28 order by suspending the trial court’s judgment from August 5.