ISLAMABAD -UNS: The Supreme Court (SC) reiterated its decision on Thursday to halt proceedings on a plea challenging the remand of the Toshakhana case to Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Humayun Dilawar — who convicted PTI chief Imran Khan in the case — until the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision on another petition seeking the suspension of the former premier’s sentence.
On August 5, a trial court in Islamabad had convicted the PTI chief for “corrupt practices” in the case pertaining to concealing details of state gifts and sentenced him to three years in prison. The verdict means that he stands disqualified from contesting general elections for five years.
Imran had subsequently approached the IHC against his conviction. He had also approached the apex court against the IHC’s decision to remand the case back to the trial court judge who had convicted him.
A three-member SC bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, had taken up the plea, with the CJP observing: “Prima facie, the decision by the additional sessions judge contains defects, but we will not intervene at this stage; rather wait for the outcome of the high court decision.”
The petitioner was behind bars since August 5 and his plea seeking suspension of the sentence was pending before the high court, therefore, “out of respect to the high court, we will wait for the decision in the matter”, the CJP said while dictating the order.
The IHC, which resumed hearing the plea for the suspension of Imran’s sentence earlier today, has adjourned the hearing until 11am on Friday (tomorrow).
The IHC and the SC were hearing the pleas submitted to them simultaneously today, with Latif Khosa appearing as Imran’s counsel before the top court.
During the hearing, the CJP observed that the IHC hearing was still under way.
“The high court is finding a solution in the matter. This is the beauty of our system.
“Let the high court’s decision come. We will hear the plea [filed in the SC] after that,” he said and adjourned the hearing until the IHC’s decision.
