IHC set to review Imran's gifts, cipher appeals

Division bench also scheduled to take up applications seeking bail in £190m case

ISLAMABAD:

 

The capital’s high court is scheduled to hear tomorrow, Monday, the appeals filed by former prime minister Imran Khan against his convictions in the state gift repository—Toshakhana—and the diplomatic cipher cases.

The same division bench comprising Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb will also address the appeals filed by Imran’s co-accused—former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi.

A special court sentenced Imran and Qureshi to 10 years in prison in the diplomatic cipher case on Jan 30. A day later, on Jan 31, an accountability court sentenced the former PM and his wife to 14 years in prison in the gift repository case.
On Monday, the IHC bench will also consider the bail applications of the accused individuals, seeking suspension of the sentences handed down by the trial courts just a week before the Feb 8 general elections.

Additionally, a division bench consisting of Justice Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri will hear on Monday, Feb 26, the post-arrest bail applications of the PTI founder and his wife in the £190m corruption case.

Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore extended until March 1 the interim bail granted to Imran in seven different cases of vandalism registered after the May 9, 2023 riots.

During the proceedings, ATC Judge Arshad Javed expressed his annoyance with the Adiala Jail authorities, who failed to ensure the former premier's appearance in court through video link or WhatsApp call.

Imran has been detained at the prison facility in Rawalpindi since September last year.

The court remarked during the hearing that the Adiala Jail superintendent had committed contempt of court. However, the judge noted that if action was taken against the superintendent, the decision on the accused's bail might be delayed.

Deputy Prosecutor Abdul Jabbar Dogar did not object to deciding the bail applications on merit. He took the position that the presence of the accused in the courtroom was not crucial.

“Everyone knows that the founder of PTI is in Adiala Jail. It is better to complete arguments on bail in his absence.”
The PTI founder's lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, agreed with the proposal to present arguments on the bail extension.
The ATC later decided to proceed with the court proceedings in the absence of the accused and extended his interim bail until March 1.

(WITH INPUT FROM OUR LAHORE CORRESPONDENT)