Toshakhana axe falls on PTI chief

Deposed prime minister Imran Khan was arrested and sent to famous Attock jail Saturday hours after a trial court in Islamabad sentenced him to three years in prison while imposing on him a fine of Rs100,000 for making false declarations about his assets to the polls supervisory body, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar also disqualified the PTI chief for five years, apparently ending his prospects for taking part in the elections slated for November this year, provided that superior courts do not come to his rescue this time.

“This court finds it more than convincing that the complainant [ECP] has provided confidence inspiring, well-knitted and corroborated evidence and so the charge against the accused has successfully been proven,” the judge said in his 30-page verdict issued at the conclusion of a rather speedy trial initiated on a criminal complaint of the ECP.

The trial court said while filing Form-B for financial year 2018-2019, Imran Khan had declared "four goats" as his assets but omitted to disclose purchase of precious gifts from the state’s gift repository—Toshakhana—as well as their sale to different people.

Every lawmaker is supposed to submit Form-B to the ECP on a yearly basis. This form is a statement of a legislator’s assets and liabilities including moveable and immovable properties in and outside Pakistan.

According to the verdict, Imran Khan committed the offense of “corrupt practices” by making and publishing false declarations in respect of assets he acquired by way of gifts from the Toshakhana during the years 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-21.

“He has been found guilty of corrupt practices by hiding the benefits he accrued from the national exchequer willfully and intentionally. He cheated while providing information about the gifts he obtained from Toshakhana which later proved to be false and inaccurate.

“His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt,” the order said.

Interestingly, the trial court issued its verdict a day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) remanded the matter of maintainability of the ECP’s complaint back to the trial court for “decision afresh.”

“The court [IHC] was informed that the matter is pending for final arguments tomorrow [August 4], the petitioner [Imran] shall ensure addressing positively on the issue when the matter is fixed [listed] by the court for final argument,” the IHC had noted in its written order.

On Saturday, when the trial court resumed hearing the case, Imran’s lead counsel did not show up. The trial court judge called the PTI’s counsel four times between 8:35am to 12noon. However, when "no one" appeared on behalf of the accused for argument, the court reserved its verdict.

 At 12:30pm, the trial court judge unveiled his order. Referring to the IHC order, the court observed that it was dismissing the PTI chief petition against maintainability of the ECP complaint as “no body argued the application filed by the accused questioning maintainability of the complaint”.

The court also ordered the Islamabad Police to execute Imran’s arrest warrants.

Imran Khan was at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore when the court issued the verdict.

However, a heavy contingent of the Punjab Police had surrounded Imran’s residence hours before the court convicted the former PM, blocking the roads leading to the house using shipping containers.

Soon after the ruling, a police team led by CIA Deputy Inspector General Liaqat Malik entered the PTI chief’s home without any resistance and took him away. A picture of Malik sitting with Imran Khan inside a vehicle also appeared later.

There was a plan to transport Imran to Islamabad by air. However due to the weather conditions, he was sent to the capital through the motorway.

Once in Islamabad, Imran was shifted to PIMS for medical checkup. Earlier, Imran was supposed to be incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. He was later shifted to Attock Jail in view of security reasons. Attock is a historical fort city around 60 kilometres west of Islamabad.

According to sources, the former PM was locked up in the high security zone of the jail where he is provided facilities “as per jail manual.” They said Imran has been provided a mattress and chair.

He will be allowed to keep necessary items like a towel, tissue paper box, water bottle, eyeglasses, rosary and a watch. Facilities like an air cooler or air conditioner can be provided subject to court order, they said.

"A thief has been arrested today," Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told reporters. "Any negotiations with the thief will be difficult now because he will be in jail."

PTI lawyers said they were filing multiple appeals to try and overturn Imran Khan's conviction and secure his release. "This is a very regrettable decision that was made in haste. Justice was not provided to us and the right of defence was not given," Gohar Ali Khan, a member of his legal team, told AFP.

Some small, scattered protests by his supporters broke out across the country after police arrested the former PM. However, the PTI failed to make any significant demonstration despite a call by Imran Khan, whose statement was posted to his X account following his arrest, calling for his supporters to protest.

[WITH INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN LAHORE AND AGENCIES]