ISLAMABAD (DRepublic policy) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday declared the Toshakhana (gift repository) case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman inadmissible.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the verdict reserved earlier on a petition filed by the former premier against the decision of a trial court that had declared the criminal case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) admissible.
The petition had been filed after the PTI chief was indicted in the case on May 10. Two days later, the high court stopped criminal proceedings in the Toshakhana case.
On May 5, Islamabad’s Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar announced that charges would be framed against the PTI chairman on May 10 in the Toshakhana case.
During the hearing, the former PM’s lawyer had argued on two pleas stating that the ECP’s petition was “non-maintainable” and that the sessions court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the matter.
However, the judge rejected both requests and summoned the PTI chief in person for the indictment.
On May 10, Judge Humayun Dilawar indicted him during court proceedings that were held at the guest house of the Police Lines headquarters at H-11.
For security reasons, the commissioner’s office had given the status of the court to the Police Lines. When the court indicted him in the Toshakhana case, he refused to sign the documents, denying committing the crime.
