Imran Khan found guilty in Toshakhana case

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad found Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan guilty of corrupt practices in the Toshakhana case on Saturday.

Additional and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar announced a jail term of three years along with a fine of Rs100,000 – the maximum penalty in such cases – for Imran Khan and also issued his arrest warrant.

Subsequently, the former prime minister was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.

Imran Khan was facing the case in which he was accused of misusing his position as the prime minister to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad. The gifts are said to be worth more than Rs140 million ($635,000).

Judge Dilawar rejected Imran Khan’s plea seeking inadmissibility of the case, saying in his judgement: “Charges of misdeclaration of assets have been proven against PTI chairman.”

The legal team of Imran Khan said the conviction would be challenged immediately.

Imran Khan was summoned by the district and sessions court on Saturday after the Islamabad High Court rejected the former PM’s pleas challenging the maintainability order in the Toshakhana case. He was asked to appear before the court in person.

The PTI chairman had filed petitions in the courts, including Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court, challenging the Toshakhana case.

A day earlier, the IHC turned down Imran Khan’s request to transfer the case to another court and directed Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar to continue hearing the case.

Under the rules governing Toshakhana – a Persian word meaning ‘treasure house’ – government officials can keep gifts if they have a low worth, while they must pay a dramatically reduced fee to the government for extravagant items.

The Toshakhana has been under a microscope ever since the emergence of the allegations that Imran Khan purchased the gifts he received as prime minister at throwaway rates and sold them off in the open market for staggering profits.