Imran Khan to be set free as court suspends 3-year sentence in Toshakhana case

PTI

Islamabad, August 29

The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday suspended Imran Khan's conviction and three-year sentence in the Toshakhana corruption case and ordered his release, in a big relief for the former jailed Pakistan prime minister.

A division bench comprising Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri announced the much-anticipated verdict which was reserved on Monday.

“Decision of District Court (has been) suspended by IHC,” Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said in a short WhatsApp message.

“The copy of the judgment will be available shortly…all we are saying now is that [Imran's] request has been approved,” Justice Farooq said.

Khan’s aide on legal affairs Naeem Haider Panjotha posted on X, “The CJ has accepted our request, suspended the sentence and said a detailed decision would be provided later.”       

The judges reserved the verdict on Monday after the rival lawyers concluded their arguments on the suspension of the three-year sentence awarded by Judge Humayun Dilawar on August 5.

A trial court in Islamabad convicted and sentenced the 70-year-old PTI chairman to three years in prison on August 5.

The cricketer-turned-politician was sentenced on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts acquired by him and his family during his 2018-2022 tenure. He has also been barred from politics for five years, preventing him from contesting an upcoming election.

Khan challenged his conviction within days and the IHC began a formal hearing on August 22. It adjourned the case on Friday after the lawyer representing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not appear due to illness.

Khan's lawyer Latif Khosa completed his argument on Thursday, asserting that the verdict was given in haste and was full of shortcomings.

He also urged the court to set aside the sentence but the defence team demanded more time to complete its arguments. 

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