ATC bars Imran's arrest in seven cases

Criminal proceedings in Toshakhana case against PTI chief challenged at IHC

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan successfully secured relief from an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Tuesday as the court approved his request for interim bail and prevented the police from arresting him.

ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas heard Imran's pleas seeking bail in multiple cases pertaining to the clashes outside the judicial complex in the federal capital ahead of his appearance before the district and sessions court in the Toshakhana case.

عمران خان انسداد دہشت گردی عدالت پہنچ گئے،عمران خان 7 مقدمات میں ضمانت کی درخواست دائر کریں گے#BehindYouSkipper pic.twitter.com/Ri75Xh0weq

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 9, 2023

The court approved Imran's bail against bonds worth Rs50,000 in all seven cases.

Criminal proceedings challenged at IHC

A lower court's decision to proceed with the former premier's indictment under criminal charges over the Toshakhana reference has been challenged at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

It may be noted that a local court in the federal capital is set to indict the former prime minister on May 10 in the Toshakhana case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Read Imran's indictment in Toshakhana case deferred again

Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar on Friday had dismissed two petitions filed by the PTI chief, challenging criminal proceedings against him in the Toshakhana case, after hearing arguments from both sides.

The reference was filed by the 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.