Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was sent to jail
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested at his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore, shortly after a district and sessions court in the capital city sentenced him to a three-year prison term in the Toshakhana case. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Vice President of PTI, confirmed the development and criticized the verdict, asserting that they would appeal the decision in higher courts.
It is reported that Imran Khan will be transferred to Adiala Jail while being escorted to the federal capital under strict security measures. Meanwhile, security has been heightened in Islamabad, with additional troops deployed at checkpoints.
Earlier in the day, Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar found the PTI chairman guilty of concealing Toshakhana gifts in his asset declarations. The case had been filed against him by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The sessions court also imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on Khan, warning that failure to pay the fine could result in an extension of his jail term by six months. The judge concluded that Imran Khan had submitted a false affidavit and issued arrest warrants, instructing the Islamabad IGP to enforce them.
As a consequence of the verdict, Imran Khan is disqualified from holding any office for a period of five years under the Election Act.
A day prior, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had once again invalidated a session court’s ruling that had deemed the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan admissible. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq instructed the trial court to reassess the case’s viability after hearing arguments from both sides.
Conversely, the high court rejected the PTI chief’s request to transfer the case to a different court. It issued notices to involved parties the following week in response to petitions seeking restoration of the right to a defense.
Last month, a sessions court had initially accepted the admissibility of the Toshakhana case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan, accusing Imran Khan of concealing gifts in his asset declarations. This decision was subsequently contested by Imran Khan in the IHC.