The Islamabad High Court (IHC) turned down on Wednesday former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s plea to withdraw his appeal challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the Toshakhana case, Aaj News reported.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the reserved verdict.
The former PM was arrested on August 5 in the case after a district and sessions court in the federal capital found him guilty in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in prison.
Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar ruled that charges against Imran in the case were proven, adding that the former PM “deliberately submitted fake details to the Election Commission of Pakistan and is found guilty of corrupt practices”.
After his conviction in Toshakhana reference by a local court, Imran – under the law – could not contest the intra-party elections for the top post which he has been holding since the creation of the party in 1996.
Following the trial court’s verdict, Imran had moved the court, challenging his conviction. However, he later filed a withdrawal petition saying that he wanted the Lahore High Court to hear the matter.
Background
Last year in October, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had disqualified Imran from his parliamentary membership for filing “false” and “incorrect declaration” in his statement of assets and liabilities for the year 2020-21 filed with the electoral entity.
Established in 1974, the Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states and foreign dignitaries.
Lawmakers from the ruling coalition had filed a reference last year against Imran alleging that he had not shared details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana and proceeds from their reported sales.