IHC suspends PTI chairman's sentence in Toshakhana case, orders his release

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended the sentence of the PTI chairman and ordered his immediate release after furnishing surety bonds worth Rs100,000.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri announced the verdict which was reserved on Monday. 

In the eight-page verdict, the court ruled that the trial court had sentenced the PTI chairman under the Election Act on the complaint of the Election Commission of Pakistan. "It has been written in the Qaim Ali Shah case that it is not mandatory to suspend the sentence in each case. The Supreme Court in its judgment stated it is prerogative of the High Court to grant or reject the bail," it ruled.

The court ruled that the petitioner deserve suspension of the sentence.

On August 5, Additional Sessions Judge Hamayun Dilawar had sentenced the PTI chairman to three years in prison and fined him Rs100,000 after he found guilty of corrupt practices in the Toshakhana case.

After being convicted, the PTI chairman was disqualified from holding a public office for five years. The court had ruled that the PTI chairman will have to undergo more six months in jail in case of non-payment of fine.

On August 4, Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had nullified the verdict declaring the Toshakhana case as maintainable. The court had directed Additional Sessions Judge Hamayun Dilawar to re-decide the case after hearing it again.

On July 8, Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar had announced the reserved verdict, declaring the Toshakhana case maintainable.

The Toshakhana case was filed on the basis of a complaint by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), alleging the PTI chairman had deliberately concealed details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana.

The ECP had declared that the former premier had indeed made 'false statements and incorrect declarations' regarding the gifts.