Pakistan court halts Toshakhana Case verdict, grants Imran Khan bail

On Tuesday, a court in Pakistan instructed the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on bail, as it suspended his conviction and prison sentence in a case concerning state gifts.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has halted the conviction and three-year imprisonment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case, as reported by Dawn news. The verdict, long-awaited, was delivered by the bench led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahan­giri, responding to the appeal filed by the former prime minister against his jail sentence. This decision comes several months before the country’s upcoming national elections.

As per Dawn News, the trial court in Islamabad found the PTI leader guilty in a case lodged by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). This case pertained to withholding information about state gifts, resulting in a three-year imprisonment. The ruling led to his disqualification from participating in general elections for a span of five years.

Based on information from Dawn News, the trial court in Islamabad found the PTI leader guilty in a case initiated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which revolved around concealing information about state gifts. Consequently, he was sentenced to three years in jail and barred from participating in general elections for five years.

In response, Imran Khan appealed against his conviction in the high court and also approached the Supreme Court (SC) regarding the IHC’s decision to return the case to the trial court judge who had pronounced the verdict.

On August 5, a Pakistan district and sessions court sentenced Imran Khan to three years in prison for the Toshakhana case, which concerned the unlawful sale of state gifts. Additionally, he was disqualified from political activities for five years. Following this, he was incarcerated at Attock Jail in Punjab province.

Following his conviction in the Toshakhana case, Imran Khan, the PTI Chairman, was arrested at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore. The court also levied a fine of 100,000 Pakistani Rupees on him, according to Geo News. Khan, expressing his discontentment about being incarcerated and stating his desire not to remain imprisoned, as reported by Pakistan’s Geo News.

Furthermore, Imran Khan had remarked that he continues to be confined in his jail cell under “unpleasant” circumstances, according to sources.

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