PTI chief fails yet again to secure relief at SC in Toshakhana case

Top court recommends awaiting IHC's verdict, but summons ECP officials on August 4

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court (SC) rejected for a second time on Wednesday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's request to stay the trial court's proceedings in the Toshakhana (gift repository) case.

Just last week, the apex court had declined to intervene in the criminal proceedings against the former premier. It had instead urged the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide the pending petitions filed by the PTI chairman.

However, Imran's legal team approached the top court once again yesterday, seeking suspension of the trial. Notably, the plea had come after a sessions court in Islamabad had rejected the PTI chief’s request to temporarily defer his trial and ordered him to give his testimony.

A three-member SC bench headed by Justice Yahya Afridi conducted the hearing today.

PTI lawyer Khawaja Haris informed the court that the trial court has ordered the witnesses to be produced and that should they fail to do so, the right of defence will be lost.

"The Islamabad High Court (IHC) took notice on four petitions but did not grant an injunction order," Haris told the SC.

Read PTI chief presents defence in gifts case

Justice Yahya Afridi urged the PTI chief's counsel to "think more" about the case. "It would be better to wait for the high court's directives instead of having the SC issue orders," he said.

"Your application had become ineffective," said the judge, "but we still entertained it and issued orders". "We do understand the situation. We had expected that the high court would issue better orders for you," Justice Afridi observed.

"The relief you had requested for, we already granted [in the last hearing]. I am surprised that you still approached the SC," he added.

Upon the judge's prompting, Haris also informed the court that the IHC is scheduled to conduct its hearing on the matter tomorrow (Thursday).

"Our orders had stated that the high court should hear all petitions together," said Justice Afridi. "Perhaps the relief that you are looking for from us, you will get from the IHC," he said, recommending it best for the PTI chief and his legal team to wait for the high court's verdict.

Nonetheless, the court issued notices on the PTI chief's request and summoned the Election Commission officials on August 4 before adjourning proceedings until then.