IHC to hear petition challenging Toshakhana verdict today

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear a petition filed by the PTI chairman to challenge the Toshakhana verdict on Wednesday.

A bench comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mahmood will hear the petition.

The petitioner prayed to court to nullify the verdict of the Toshakhana case and suspend the sentence till final decision on the main appeal. He also appealed to court to release him on bail.

On Saturday, 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.

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.