Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, was reportedly arrested after a court on Saturday sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, also known as the Toshakhan corruption case, and disqualified him from politics for five years.
Legal experts said a conviction in the case could end Imran Khan’s chances of contesting national elections due by early November. “Judge Humayun Dilawar announced that involvement in corrupt practices has been proven,” Pakistani television reported. Khan was not in court for the hearing and the judge ordered his arrest.
The court fined the Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Rs 100,000, Dawn reported. Khan was indicted in the case on May 10 based on a criminal complaint filed against him by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for concealing details of donations from Toshakhana.
During Saturday’s hearing, Additional District and Sessions Judge Dilawar ruled that the former prime minister’s allegations in the case were proved.
“Imran Khan has deliberately submitted false information to the Election Commission of Pakistan and is found guilty of corrupt practices,” Dawn quoted the judge as sending the PTI chief to jail for three years under Section 174 of the Election Act.
Dilawar also directed that a copy of the order should be sent to the Islamabad police chief for execution of court orders.
What is Toshakhan corruption case?
Imran Khan, 70, was convicted in the Toshakhan case, which was filed last year on a complaint by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which had earlier disqualified him in the same case.
The verdict came a day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) set aside the verdict of a bench to uphold the maintainability of Toshakhan’s case for criminal proceedings against Khan.
The Toshakhana issue of the sale of state gifts received by the former cricketer-turned-politician became a major issue in national politics after the ECP disqualified Khan on 21 October 2022 for “false statements and incorrect statements”.
The Toshakhana is a department under the Cabinet Division that keeps the gifts given to rulers and government officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries.
Khan bought some gifts, including a rare watch, and sold them for a profit.
Imran Khan case verdict biased
Calling it a biased verdict, Imran Khan’s party said it would challenge the decision in a higher court.
“Very biased decision of Additional District and Sessions Judge in Toshakhan case. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rejected the biased decision of the biased Justice Humayun Dilawar. Another black mark on the forehead of the justice system was placed by the case of Toshakhan. The trial was conducted in the most absurd way in history by a biased judge Dilawar. In this worst trial in history, an attempt has been made to kill justice at the hands of a biased and morally corrupt judge,” the statement said.
“The nation will never accept such a conspiracy and attempted revenge against the most popular and reliable political leader of the nation. There will be no tunnels in the face of judicial protection afforded to fascism and worst state oppression,” a spokesperson said.
