pakistan

What you need to know about Toshakhana case

Published

10 months ago

August 5, 2023

admin

What you need to know about Toshakhana case

As the PTI chief has been arrested on the heels of a court decision to hand down three-year jail term and disqualification in the Toshakhana case, many wonder what afterall is the case which has generated so much hype.

For starters, the lawsuit was brought forward by parliamentarians from the ruling party and supported by an ECP criminal complaint.

According to the lawsuit, the PTI chief “deliberately concealed” information about gifts he kept from the Toshaskhana (state repository) during his tenure as prime minister. The gifts include costly watches and mobile phone sets. The ex-premier (just convicted) is also alleged to have cashed in on the gifts through their sale.

The Toshaskhana is a storage facility or state repository for gifts given to government officials and high-profile figures by foreign dignitaries. Gifts, presents and other similar items received by those to whom these rules apply must be reported to the Cabinet Division according to the Toshakhana regulations.

The PTI chief has been embroiled in litigation for retaining the gifts and not disclosing these in declarations. He is facing the prospect of disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Earlier, the ECP came to the conclusion that the former premier had in fact made “false statements and incorrect declarations” about the presents on Oct 21, 2022.

The PTI chief was declared ineligible according to Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution, according to the watchdog’s ruling. The ECP then submitted a copy of the complaint to the Islamabad sessions court, asking for criminal charges to be brought against him for allegedly lying to authorities about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries while serving as prime minister.

He was charged for the crime on May 10. However, on July 4, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) halted the proceedings and ordered Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar to review the case in seven days while taking into consideration the eight legal issues he posed to determine if the Toshakhana reference could still be maintained.

Finally, on July 9, ADSJ Dilawar reviewed the halted proceedings and called the witnesses for testimony while declaring that the reference was maintainable.

Last month, a sessions court had ruled that the ECP referral against the PTI leader may still be maintained. The judgement was then contested at the IHC.

Judge Dilawar had earlier this week determined that Imran’s defence team had not demonstrated the significance of his witnesses.

Post Views: 67

Up Next

ATC issues show cause to officer investigating Uzair Baloch case

Don't Miss

KP masses urged to maintain peace

Click to comment

pakistan

Court reserves verdict on PTI founder’s bail plea in May 9 case

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

admin

Court reserves verdict on PTI founder's bail plea in May 9 case

The Islamabad district and sessions court has reserved verdict on the bail plea of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in the May 9 case.

Judicial Magistrate Omar Shabbir heard the case against the PTI leader registered in Shahzad Town police station.

Naeem Haider Panjhota, Sardar Masroof and Amina Ali appeared before the judge as counsel for the PTI leader.

The lawyers said the case against the PTI founder had not been pursued by an authorised officer. All cases against him had been instituted on the basis of politics and should, therefore, be quashed, they demanded.

The court after listening to the arguments reserved the verdict.

Post Views: 8

pakistan

Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

admin

Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

The Rawalpindi Sessions Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking the registration of a case against former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Hakim Khan issued a two-page written order on the petition.

In its order, the court observed that apart from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), a departmental inquiry was also being conducted against the former commissioner.

If the allegations were proven in the ECP and departmental inquiries, a legal action was certain, the order stated, adding that in this situation, there was no justification for registering a separate case against the former Rawalpindi commissioner.

Two lawyers from Rawalpindi had filed the petition seeking the registration of a case against former commissioner.

In a Feb 18 presser, the former commissioner admitted that elections in his division were “rigged”.

The commissioner accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja of being complicit in the rigging and asserted that he, along with the CEC and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, deserved punishment, even the death penalty, for their injustice.

Chattha expressed remorse for forcing his subordinates to engage in wrongdoing and admitted that winning candidates were made to lose on 13 seats in the Rawalpindi division.

Later on Feb 23, Chattha retracted his earlier statement in a written statement submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

In the statement, Chattha confessed to having supported the narrative of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) about rigging in the general elections and maligning state institutions in exchange for a lucrative position in the future.

He stated he had been made this offer by a Lahore-based PTI leader with whom he had developed a close friendship.

Chattha alleged that “this entire planning had been formulated after consultation and approval of the senior leadership of PTI”.

He stated that this proposal was made by the said [PTI] individual in consideration of the fact that he was about to retire from service after having remained a part of the services for 32 years and enjoyed all the perks and privileges.

Post Views: 8

pakistan

IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

admin

IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought the record from Zartaj Gul’s counsel on a petition seeking the name removal of PTI leader and MNA Zartaj Gul from the Exit Control List (ECL).

IHC’s Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the case on Zartaj Gul’s name removal from ECL.

During the hearing, the state counsel stated that Zartaj Gul’s name has been included in the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).

Upon inquiry from the court, the state counsel informed that Zartaj Gul’s name was included in PNIL on the order of Islamabad and Punjab police, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was responsible for including the name in PNIL.

Also read: PTI’s Shibli Faraz, Raja Basharat, Zartaj Gul secure bail in May 9 cases

State counsel added that five cases were registered against Zartaj Gul in Islamabad and Punjab.

The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Usama, disclosed that Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in those cases. He reiterated that the name was being included in the PNIL list despite being on bail.

During the hearing, Justice Tariq Jahangiri inquired about how many cases Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in and ordered the petitioner to appear before the court in the next hearing.

Consequently, IHC has adjourned the case hearing until next week by directing Zartaj Gul’s counsel to appear before the court in the next hearing with records.

Post Views: 8