ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad has adjourned the petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for an early hearing of the Toshakhana case against former prime minister Imran Khan until April 11.
During the hearing, Khan’s lawyer informed the court that neither the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman nor any senior counsel had received a summons notice for the case.
The judge subsequently sought a report from the police regarding the summons’ implementation and adjourned the hearing for a short period.
After the report was submitted, the judge adjourned the hearing until April 11.
The case centres on a government department known as Toshakhana — which during the Mughal era referred to the treasure houses kept by the subcontinent’s princely rulers to store and display gifts lavished on them.
Government officials must declare all gifts to the Cabinet Division, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value.
More expensive items must go to Toshakhana under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division, but in some cases, the recipient can buy them back at around 50 percent of their value — a discount Khan raised from 20 percent while in office.
The ruling coalition of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties has for months alleged Khan and his wife, Bushra Maneka, received lavish gifts worth millions during trips abroad. They included luxury watches, jewellery, designer handbags and perfumes.
The ECP concluded in October last year that Khan filed false statements regarding the gifts, resulting in his disqualification for being dishonest and corrupt. The electoral watchdog approached the district and sessions court seeking criminal proceedings against Khan for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts.
