ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad has granted a one-day exemption from appearance to Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in the Toshakhana case.
The case was filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the former prime minister, accusing him of concealing gifts he received from the Toshakhana.
During the hearing, Khan’s lead counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmed was unavailable, and his representative requested an adjournment until May 5 without any proceedings. Additionally, they filed a plea for exemption, citing security threats to Khan’s life.
The judge suggested that Khan could attend the hearing through a video link if he was unable to come to Islamabad. The lawyer of the ECP said there had been no development in the case since the electoral body announced its verdict in October last year.
After hearing arguments, the judge approved the exemption plea and summoned arguments on the admissibility of the ECP case on May 5.
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 Imran Khan, former prime minister, and his wife, Bushra Maneka, received lavish gifts worth millions during trips abroad. They included luxury watches, jewellery, designer handbags and perfumes.
Last year, lawmakers from the ruling coalition filed a reference against Khan, accusing him of not sharing the details of gifts he retained from Toshakhana in his assets declarations. In October, the election commission concluded that Khan filed false statements regarding the gifts.
The electoral watchdog subsequently disqualified him for being dishonest and corrupt and approached the district and sessions court seeking criminal proceedings against him for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts.
