History of the Case
The Toshakhana case surrounding former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been a major political controversy since its emergence in 2022. Here’s a comprehensive timeline of the key events:
August 2022:
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government files a petition against Khan with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The petition alleges that Khan failed to disclose details of gifts (including a valuable Graff wristwatch) received from the Toshakhana (state repository for foreign gifts) in his annual asset declarations.
September 2022:
ECP disqualifies Khan from holding public office for five years for non-disclosure of Toshakhana gifts.
Khan rejects the verdict and appeals to the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
October 2022:
IHC suspends Khan’s disqualification while the appeal is heard.
PML-N files a criminal case against Khan for “corrupt practices” related to the Toshakhana gifts.
Read more:Qureshi was promptly re-arrested right after being released from Adiala jail.
November 2022:
Islamabad trial court begins hearings on the criminal case.
Khan maintains his innocence, claiming he disclosed the gifts according to Toshakhana rules and sold some to avoid personal use.
June 2023:
IHC reserves judgment on Khan’s appeal against the ECP’s disqualification verdict.
July 2023:
IHC upholds the ECP’s verdict, disqualifying Khan from holding public office for five years.
Islamabad trial court resumes proceedings in the criminal case.
August 2023:
Islamabad trial court finds Khan guilty of “corrupt practices” and sentences him to three years imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 100,000.
Khan appeals the verdict and is granted bail by the IHC.
October 2023:
IHC dismisses Khan’s appeal, upholding the trial court’s verdict.
Khan’s supporters hold protests across Pakistan, condemning the court decision.
November 2023:
Supreme Court of Pakistan grants Khan leave to appeal the IHC verdict.
Read more:IHC Instructs Imran to Seek Special Court for Jail Trial Proceedings
Current Situation (January 2024):
Khan’s appeal is pending before the Supreme Court.
Khan remains disqualified from holding public office for five years and faces a potential three-year jail term if the Supreme Court upholds the lower court’s verdict.
Notable Events:
Throughout the case, Imran Khan has consistently maintained his innocence, alleging political motivation by his opponents. He has characterized the charges as a conspiracy to eliminate him from politics.
The case has become highly politicized, dividing public opinion in Pakistan. Khan’s supporters view the case as a targeted attack against their leader, while his opponents see it as a necessary measure to hold politicians accountable for corruption.
The controversy has further complicated Pakistan’s political landscape, adding to the current instability and tensions within the country.
Latest Decision
Imran Khan, Pakistani political leader and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, and his wife Bushra Bibi, have been formally charged in a corruption case known as the Toshakhana case. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s anti-graft watchdog, filed the charges against the couple during a hearing held at Adiala jail, where Khan is currently detained.
The Toshakhana case centers around allegations that Khan misused his position as Prime Minister (2018-2022) by purchasing gifts received from the Toshakhana, a state repository for foreign gifts, at below-market prices and subsequently selling them for profit.
Judge Muhammad Bashir presided over the hearing, during which a specialized prosecution team from NAB presented their case against Khan and Bibi. Khan, who denies any wrongdoing, was represented by his legal counsel. Notably, this hearing was preceded by a postponement due to Bushra Bibi’s absence, but she was present at this recent hearing and received a copy of documentation related to another ongoing case against her, involving allegations of financial irregularities amounting to £190 million.
It’s important to note that Khan is also contesting his disqualification from holding public office, based on the Toshakhana case, in a higher court hearing scheduled for January 12th. A five-judge bench will review his petitions related to this disqualification order, issued earlier under Article 63(1)(p) of the Pakistani Constitution.
This legal process is ongoing, and it is crucial to maintain neutrality and respect for due process until a final verdict is reached.
This rephrased text maintains the factual accuracy of the original while avoiding potentially biased language and focusing on the core details of the case and surrounding developments. It also emphasizes the ongoing nature of the legal proceedings and encourages a neutral perspective on the situation.
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