Imran Khan’s Conviction, 3-Year Sentence Suspended By Islamabad High Court

NDTV News:

The Islamabad High Court today suspended Imran Khan’s conviction and three-year sentence in the Toshakhana corruption case and ordered his release, in a big relief for the former jailed Pakistan prime minister.

A division bench comprising Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri announced the much-anticipated verdict which was reserved on Monday.

“Decision of District Court (has been) suspended by IHC,” Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said in a short WhatsApp message.

“The copy of the judgment will be available shortly all we are saying now is that [Imran’s] request has been approved,” Justice Farooq said.

Khan’s aide on legal affairs Naeem Haider Panjotha posted on X, formerly Twitter: “The CJ has accepted our request, suspended the sentence and said a detailed decision would be provided later.” The judges reserved the verdict on Monday after the rival lawyers concluded their arguments on the suspension of the three-year sentence awarded by Judge Humayun Dilawar on August 5.

A trial court in Islamabad convicted and sentenced the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman to three years in prison on August 5.

The cricketer-turned-politician was sentenced on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts acquired by him and his family during his 2018-2022 tenure. He has also been barred from politics for five years, preventing him from contesting an upcoming election.

Khan challenged his conviction within days and the IHC began a formal hearing on August 22. It adjourned the case on Friday after the lawyer representing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not appear due to illness.

Imran Khan’s lawyer Latif Khosa completed his argument on Thursday, asserting that the verdict was given in haste and was full of shortcomings.

He also urged the court to set aside the sentence but the defence team demanded more time to complete its arguments.

Separately, a three-member top court panel led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail is also set to resume hearing petitions against the Toshakhana case.