Islamabad High Court suspends Imran Khan’s conviction in Toshakhana case
The decision was made one day after the Islamabad High Court held off on giving a final judgment regarding Imran Khan’s request to contest his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case.
The Islamabad High Court has temporarily halted the three-year jail sentence of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case related to Toshakhana (a state gift repository). This decision could allow him to participate in the upcoming national elections. The court’s Chief Justice, Aamir Farooq, mentioned that the detailed judgment will be available soon. The decision was made by a panel of judges including Chief Justice Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. This ruling came after the court reserved its decision on Khan’s appeal against his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case.
However, it’s still uncertain when Imran Khan will be released from Attock Jail in Punjab, where he is currently held. Imran Khan’s spokesperson for legal matters, Naeem Haider Panjotha, shared the news on social media, expressing relief at the suspension of the punishment. Khan’s sisters were also present in court during the announcement of the verdict.
Supporters of Imran Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), gathered outside the court to celebrate the decision and asked for his release. The party has also filed a request in the Islamabad High Court, asking that he not be arrested in any new cases filed after August 5, the date when he was initially sentenced to three years in prison.
Sharif is responding
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, who took over the highest position from Khan, criticized the judgment. He reminded everyone that Khan’s punishment has only been put on hold and hasn’t been completely canceled. “Even before the decision was made, everyone predicted what it would be. This should make us worried about the fairness of the justice system,” he wrote in Urdu on X platform. The ex-cricketer turned politician, Imran Khan, was given punishment because he was found guilty of illegally selling state presents that he and his family had received during his time as the leader from 2018 to 2022. Additionally, he has been forbidden from participating in politics for five years, which means he can’t compete in the upcoming election.
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