Apex Court adjourns hearing on PTI Chairman’s plea till IHC issues verdict in Toshakhana case

ISLAMABAD, August 24 (SABAH): The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan’s plea challenging the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision in the Toshakhana case till the latter issues a verdict on the plea seeking the suspension of the sentence in the case.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail heard the case as the IHC was hearing the former prime minister’s plea against the Toshakhana verdict.

At the start of the hearing, CJP Bandial lauded IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq for his efforts and it would be better if the high court issues its verdict.

The top judge then inquired if anyone from the attorney general’s office was present in the courtroom as they wanted to know the situation about the condition in which the PTI chief, who was removed from the prime minister’s office via a vote of no-confidence in April last year,  was kept in jail. He also directed the authorities to submit a report on the facilities provided to the PTI chief in jail.

On this point, Imran Khan’s lawyer Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa told the court that they just presented their arguments before the IHC.

CJP Bandial responded that your objection was that you were not being heard now all your arguments have been heard.

“Hope from the high court that it gives a decision based on your points,” remarked CJP Bandial.

Moving on, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail inquired about what was the result of the IHC hearing. To which Khosa responded that he was not a politician so he could not say much.

“This is the beauty of the system that first a decision is made at the high court and then it comes to the Supreme Court,” remarked the apex court’s chief justice. While Justice Mandokhail asked Imran Khan’s legal team that they should not criticise the judges of the Islamabad High Court.

Justice Jamal Mandokhail suggested not to criticise the judges of the Islamabad High Court.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that judges were often criticised in the media, but they would continue to make decisions based on their duty under the constitution and law.

The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on the petition until the order of the Islamabad High Court.

Meanwhile in the written order issued by CJP Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday, the court has stated that the learned Attorney General for Pakistan shall file a report on the living conditions of the petitioner in jail by 28.08.2023 for perusal by Members of the Bench in Chambers.