Pak court allows Imran to go back without indictment in Toshakhana case
- In Reports
- 09:23 PM, Mar 18, 2023
- Myind Staff
On Saturday, Imran Khan was allowed by an Islamabad court to go back without his indictment in the Toshakhana case after he marked his attendance outside the court complex, amidst a stand-off between his supporters and security forces who have tried to arrest him for skipping multiple previous hearings.
Khan, the chairperson of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been accused of concealing, in his asset declarations, details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana — the treasury where presents given to government officials from foreign officials are kept.
It has been alleged that Khan, 70, pocketed $36 million from selling three watches gifted to him, and he never deposited some gifts in the Toshakhana, violating the rule as a prime minister is allowed to retain the gifts only after paying a certain amount.
Judge Iqbal after waiting for hours for Khan to reach the court agreed with the suggestion by his lawyer to get the signature of the former premier on the attendance sheet in his vehicle to comply with the court orders of in-person presence.
The judge allowed Khan to go back after marking his attendance outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex where he was set to be indicted in the Toshakhana case.
'The situation as it is, the hearing and appearance cannot proceed that is why all those who have gathered here should disperse after marking attendance. There is no need for shelling or pelting, the hearing cannot be held today,” the judge was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.
The judge added that once Khan’s signatures were received then it could be later discussed at what date to hold his appearance again.
Earlier on Saturday, police broke into Khan's residence in Zaman Park in Lahore. Footage from PTI showed police beating and arresting his supporters at the property.
Slamming the police assault at his residence, Khan tweeted, "Meanwhile Punjab police have led an assault on my house in Zaman Park where Bushra Begum is alone. Under what law are they doing this? This is part of the London Plan where commitments were made to bring absconder Nawaz Sharif to power as quid pro quo for agreeing to one appointment."
Image source: AFP
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