Islamabad, May 10,2023: In more trouble for Imran Khan, the arrested former Pakistan premier was on Wednesday indicted in the Toshakhana case, in which the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief is accused of taking gifts in an illegal manner.
Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar, of the Islamabad district and sessions court, framed charges against the former prime minister in the Toshakhana case.
Imran Khan’s lawyers requested for the case to be transferred to another judge, which was rejected.
A counsel said the court wanted to indict Imran Khan, but they boycotted and left the room.
The charge sheet was read out to Imran Khan in the courtroom.
Imran Khan’s lawyer Khawaja Haris told the court they want to record some objections to the case. “A case has never been heard in the Police Lines before,” the lawyer remarked.
The judge refused to bring our objections on record, Haris said, adding that on the judge’s refusal, they decided to boycott the process.
’Imran Khan did not sign the indictment imposed by the court,“ his lawyer Ali Bukhari said.
The prosecution has been ordered to present evidence against Imran Khan on May 13. The court then adjourned the hearing.
Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar indicted the incarcerated PTI chairman in the case for “deliberately concealing” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana — a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept — during his tenure as the prime minister.
Khan, however, denied the charges and claimed innocence.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had sought proceedings under the criminal law against the former prime minister in the case.
The indictment in the case was pending for a long period of time as the PTI chief had been avoiding appearing before the court.
Last week, the Islamabad court summoned Khan for May 10 to frame charges against him in the case. In its reference, the electoral watchdog alleges that the former premier had “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana.
It should be noted that Khan was not brought to a regular court in the federal capital and his scheduled hearing took place at the location where he was under custody, reports said.
