New Delhi: Imran Khan, the former Pakistan Prime Minister was on Saturday held guilty of ‘corrupt & illegal practices’ in the Toshakhana case and subsequently handed over three years jail term by an Islamabad court.
With this conviction, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairman stands disqualified from contesting elections for about five years.
The Islamabad trial court also imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on the former Pak PM, failing which he will have to spend life in jail for 6 more months, local media reported.
“Imran Khan submitted fake details to the Election Commission of Pakistan and is found guilty of corrupt practices,” Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar said while pronouncing judgement.
Following the court order, the Islamabad Police issued arrest warrant for the beleaguered Pakistani leader.
Imran’s party expressed shock over judgement and called it a mockery of law.
“It’s absolutely shameful and disgusting how a mockery of law is going on just because the wish is to disqualify and jail Imran Khan,” his party PTI said in a statement.
What is Toshakhana corruption case?
Toshakhana case was filed against cricketer-turned-politician last year, on the complaints of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which also disqualified him in the same case.
The Toshakhana issue dominated the political discourse of Pakistan after the PTI chief was disqualified by the ECP on October 21, 2022 for allegedly making “false statements & incorrect declarations”. Imran was accused of selling gifts received during foreign visits to raise money for ‘personal uses’.
Toshakhana is a department in the Pakistan cabinet, which oversees the restoration of gifts received by country’s rulers or other senior govt officials by heads of foreign countries.
