Imran Khan’s indictment in Toshakhana case deferred

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan’s indictment in the Toshakhana case was deferred after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman did not attend the case hearing on Tuesday.

The lawyers of the PTI chairman told a sessions court that Imran Khan’s health did not allow him to appear for the hearing.

According to local media reports, Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal pronounced the verdict reserved earlier in the day after Imran Khan filed a fresh petition seeking exemption from personal appearance.

Accepting the plea, the judge directed the legal team of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to provide attested copies of the evidence and complaint. A new date for the framing of charges will be announced later.

The reference was filed by the ECP in November last year, praying the court to proceed against the PTI chief under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as prime minister.

The ECP had requested that the PTI chief be convicted for the offences mentioned under sections 167 (corrupt practice) and 173 (making or publishing a false statement or declaration) of the Elections Act 2017.

It added that as per the record, the state gifts were purchased from the Toshakhana for Rs21.5 million on the basis of their assessed value, while they were valued at around Rs108 million.