Islamabad, Aug 25: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday observed that the trial court, which convicted Imran Khan in the Toshakhanacorruption case, “did wrong” as it adjourned until Monday the hearing on jailed former prime minister’s appeal against his conviction and sentence.
On August 5, a sessions court in Islamabad convicted Khan, 70, in the case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and sentenced him to three years in prison. The verdict meant he was disqualified from contesting general elections for five years.
Two-member IHC bench comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the plea seeking suspension of Khan’s conviction by the trial court’s Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar.
During the hearing, Advocate Amjad Pervaiz, the ECP’s lawyer, was expected to conclude his arguments.
His assistant advocate asked the bench for an adjournment saying: “For the last eight months, we never sought adjournment.”
He said that doctors had suggested Parvaiz bed rest. At this, Chief Justice Farooq said: “The request for suspension of sentence is now at a critical stage.”
He added that arguments would have been completed in fifteen to twenty minutes.
He further said: “We can also do what the trial court did, but we will not.”
“We adjourn the case till Monday (August 28), and even if no one comes, we will announce our decision,” he said. (PTI)
