An Islamabad trial court on Saturday ruled that charges against PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case were proven and sentenced the former prime minister to three years in jail. The court also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the PTI chief. A local court sentenced the PTI chairman for a three-year term and a Rs100,000 fine in the Toshakhana case on Saturday – a move that will change in the country’s political landscape. The court also declared that the PTI chairman was involved in corrupt practices and had submitted a bogus affidavit with the Election Commission, ordering the Islamabad Police chief to arrest the convict immediately.

Earlier Saturday, the court hearing the Toshakhana case had reserved its judgment in the Toshakhana case which would be announced at 12:30pm as the defence counsel again failed to appear in person. The court had observed that the judgment would announced if the defence counsel did not appear before it by 12pm. Humayun Dilawar the additional sessions judge  passed the order as the accused  the PTI chairman – again failed to appear in person as he told the lawyer appearing on behalf of the main defence counsel that Khawaja Haris had been directed to attend the hearing by 8:30am which he failed to do so. During the hearing, senior lawyer Amjad Pervaiz and Saad Hassan appeared before the judge to represent the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). As the hearing began, the judge asked Amjad Pervaiz whether he wanted to say something. However, Khalid Chaudhry  an associate lawyer representing Haris  requested the court to give some time as the senior counsel was busy in a NAB court’s proceedings.

However, the ECP counsel interrupted to argue that giving time wasn’t an issue; however, the accused had also been directed to ensure his presence during the hearing. At this point, the judge asked Chaudhry whether he had the power of attorney to represent the accused in this case, to which he informed the judge that he didn’t and he was a junior lawyer of Barrister Gohar. When asked about the nature of the NAB case, Chaudhry replied that it pertained to the bail of PTI the chairman and his wife, When asked about the nature of the NAB case, Chaudhry replied that it pertained to the bail of PTI the chairman and his wife.

On this, the ECP counsel again intervened and said Chaudhry didn’t inform when the senior counsel would appear before the session court and that the bail plea was scheduled to heard at 2:30pm.  Meanwhile, the judge observed that non-bailable warrants were issued if an accused failed to appear in person and that Haris too didn’t follow the directions to reach the court at 8:30.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)