Imran to be indicted in Toshakhana case on Feb 7

Court gives PTI chief last chance to appear on Feb 15 in funding case

ISLAMABAD:

A district and sessions court on Tuesday set Feb 7 as the date for indicting PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference filed.

The reference was filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in November last year, praying the court to proceed against the PTI chief under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister.

The ECP had requested that the PTI chief 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. It added that as per the record, the state gifts were purchased from the Toshakhana for Rs21.5 million on the basis of their assessed value, while they were valued at around Rs108 million.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal heard reference on Tuesday.

The judge Iqbal directed Imran to submit surety bonds worth Rs20,000, instructing him to ensure in-person attendance in court at the next hearing.

Last chance in funding case

A banking court in Islamabad rejected the Imran’s request to attend proceedings through video link, giving him a last chance to appear in person in the prohibited funding case.

Judge Rakhshanda Shaheen warned the PTI leader that his interim bail would be cancelled in case he did not turn up on the next date of hearing on Feb 15.

ATC extends Imran’s bail

Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court extended the interim bail of Imran in a case pertaining to damaging public property during a protest and for violation of Section 144 in the federal capital.

Read Toshakhana data to be made public

ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas heard the case against the former premier. The court extended the interim bail of Imran till Feb 10 and adjourned the hearing.

ECP protest case

A district and sessions court in Islamabad accepted Imran’s plea for exemption from appearance in the case related to the protest outside the ECP and adjourned the hearing till Feb 10.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal heard the former prime minister's pre-arrest bail application in the case regarding protest outside the ECP.

Babar Awan, a senior lawyer, requested the court to grant Imran exemption from attendance due to security concerns and on medical grounds.

“The interior minister has said that Imran Khan has security concerns. It has been said that there may be another attack on him,” Awan added.

Imran was shot and injured during a rally in Wazirabad on Nov 3.

Awan pleaded the court to direct the interior secretary, chief commissioner, and the IG to provide Imran security on appearance, asking the court to give the date of Feb 10. “Imran Khan will appear.”

The court remarked that if Imran has to come on Feb 10, they would ask the IG to provide security to him. Awan said that he would inform the court 48 hours before Feb 10.

(With input from APP)