pakistan

Islamabad court scraps ECP plea for early hearing of Toshakhana case against Imran Khan

Published

1 year ago

April 11, 2023

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A district and sessions court in the federal capital on Tuesday disposed of a petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for early hearing of the Toshakhana case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal announced the verdict reserved earlier in the day after hearing arguments from the ECP and Imran Khan’s lawyers.

At the outset of the hearing, PTI chief’s lawyer Khawaja Harris raised objections to the ECP plea, stating: “Why is it showing more interest in Imran Khan’s case?” He said the PTI was facing a plethora of cases and lawyers required time to get themselves prepared for them.

Another PTI lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, argued that the court had fixed April 29 for next hearing after the election commission expressed its consent. “It came to the ECP’s mind after two days that the case should be fixed for early hearing,” he said.

At one point, Mr Harris cited the proceedings of a case filed by the ECP against PPP leader Ali Haider Gilani, saying the private complaint was lodged against him last year but he was yet to be indicted. He said a court had also postponed Mr Gilani’s case for one and a half months.

While rejecting the impression that the case was being dragged, he said the suspect also had some rights. The PTI lawyer also accused the ECP of discrimination in the case against his client. “Attempts to fix the case for early hearing are tantamount to intervention,” he argued.

Mr Harris said the court could make a comparison of interest level being showed by the top electoral body in cases against Imran Khan and Ali Haider Gilani. He said the ECP should be free from political influence.

In counter arguments, the ECP lawyer said the district election commissioner was authorised to lodge complaints, adding: “Bribery and concealing assets in returns are two different cases”. He also rejected the allegation of adopting discriminatory approach in Mr Khan’s case. He also cited a ruling of the Supreme Court, stating that cases related to corrupt practices must be decided in three months.

He said the PTI chief had been calling the election commission “liar” for three months. “If you are right, come to court,” he said, adding that Mr Khan had not filed any acquittal plea.

After hearing the arguments, the judge reserved the verdict and later rejected the ECP’s plea.

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Related Topics:Imran Khan pakistan Toshakhana case

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pakistan

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

Published

18 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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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.

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pakistan

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

Published

18 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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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.

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pakistan

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

Published

18 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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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.

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