Court to hear Toshakhana case against Imran today

ECP seeks criminal proceedings against PTI chairman ‘for concealing assets’

ISLAMABAD:

The court in Islamabad will hear the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) plea for starting criminal proceedings against PTI chairman and former premier Imran Khan in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference on Monday (today).

District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal has summoned the PTI chief in his personal capacity.

On December 15, the court had accepted the maintainability of the commission’s petition.

In its three-page verdict, the court noted that prima facie, the declaration of assets submitted by the PTI chief to the ECP was incorrect.

Read PAC seeks Toshakhana record of PM, army chief, judges

It added that the former premier had not mentioned the details of the gifts he had acquired from the Toshakhana.

The court further observed that Imran had also failed to mention the money he had acquired by selling these gifts.

The judge in his verdict wrote that prima facie, the PTI chief was guilty of violating Section 174 of the Election Act.

The court noted that the Islamabad district election commissioner and an officer of the finance department of the ECP had recorded their affidavits.

It added that the details of Imran’s statements for four years -- 2017 to 2021 -- had also been submitted before the court.

The ECP had sent the reference to the district and sessions judge under Sections 137, 170, 167 of the Election Act.

It asked the court to proceed against the PTI chief under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts he had received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister.

“[The PTI chief had] deliberately concealed his assets relating to Toshakhana gifts retained by him particularly in 2018 and 2019 in the statements of assets and liabilities filed for the year 2017-2018 and 2018-19,” it added.

The commission had asked the court that Imran be convicted for the offences mentioned under Sections 167 (corrupt practice) and 173 (making or publishing a false statement or declaration) of the Elections Act 2017.

Read More Imran brought into power with 'full force', wasted army's efforts: PM Shehbaz

The reference had been forwarded to the district court after the ECP ordered criminal action against the PTI chief in its consensus verdict in Toshakana reference in October last year.

If the corrupt practices were proven to be accurate, Imran could be sentenced to three years in jail and a fine.

In October 2022, a four-member ECP bench had disqualified the former prime minister and ruled that the PTI chief was no longer a member of the National Assembly.

It further stated that Imran had submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.