ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court(SC) rejected PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s request for a stay order on the trial against him in the Toshakhana criminal case.
The court disposed of the PTI chief’s appeal against a high court decision and ruled that the high court should decide Imran Khan’s appeal and other applications together. The court maintained that interfering with the trial court’s proceedings would not be proper.
The election commission’s lawyer informed the court that the high court had remanded the case back to the trial court. Which conducted a re-trial and declared the case maintainable.
Amjad Pervaiz stated that the PTI chairman was challenging the declaration of maintainability of the case once again, and his re-appeal in the high court is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had called the election commission’s officer to the rostrum. And informed him that he would be heard that day, and a decision would be announced. The SC had issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan on Imran Khan’s appeal.
During the hearing conducted by a division bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Yahya Afridi. Imran Khan’s lawyer, Khawaja Haris, said that their request was to transfer the case to another judge. He also mentioned that they had challenged the jurisdiction of the court. But the high court did not decide these two requests.
Justice Afridi remarked that the matter of jurisdiction should have been decided first and said that they would request the high court to decide all the applications together.
Khawaja Haris informed the SC
Khawaja Haris informed the SC that on that day, the trial court had called his client for recording a statement under Section 342 and requested for the trial in the case to stay for just that day. Justice Musarrat Hilali said they were referring the case to the Islamabad High Court. And questioned how they could issue directions to the trial court.
Before the hearing started, there was a commotion outside the courtroom, which angered the court. Justice Afridi sent Khawaja Haris to check the situation, emphasizing the importance of respecting the court. After a 10-minute break, the two judges return to the courtroom. When the court’s dignity was restored, the hearing resumed in the presence of Imran Khan.
