ISLAMABAD: The federal government has retracted its appeal against a Lahore High Court verdict concerning a case related to the auction of Toshakhana gifts.
The deputy attorney general informed the Supreme Court that the government intends to withdraw the appeal due to the newly established Toshakhana rules.
A hearing, led by a division bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, took place.
The Lahore High Court’s ruling, which opposes limiting the auction of Toshakhana gifts to specific individuals, remains upheld.
Furthermore, the deputy attorney general informed the apex court that the new Toshakhana gifts law is awaiting approval from the president.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that even if the new law is enacted, the high court’s decision will remain unchanged.
Justice Ahsan elaborated that the Lahore High Court had decreed Toshakhana gifts to be public property, emphasizing that anyone can participate in the auction of these publicly owned gifts.
He continued by stating that since the gifts are classified as public property, it is not permissible for only certain individuals to make purchases.
Justice Athar Minallah added that the Lahore High Court’s decision is in accordance with the Constitution and the law, emphasizing that the highest bidder exclusively holds the right to acquire the gift.
The federal government had requested time to determine whether it would persist with the appeal against the decision.
Deputy Attorney General Malik Javed appealed for time to seek instructions from the government. Subsequently, a recess was announced during the proceedings.
The Lahore High Court had declared the practice of auctioning Toshakhana gifts to specific individuals as unlawful.
In response to the Lahore High Court’s decision, the former PTI government had lodged an appeal in the Supreme Court.
IHC Suspends Sentence Of PTI Chairman Imran Khan In Toshakhana Case: IK May Be Arrested In Cipher Case, Says Khosa
Meanwhile, The Islamabad High Court today suspended the sentence of PTI chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case. The trial court judge Humayun Dilawar had awarded three years imprisonment to Imran Khan in this case.
The court ordered the immediate release of Imran Khan from Attock Jail. The IHC bench announced the verdict through its short order. A detailed decision will be announced later on.
