Supreme Court rejected
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court rejected PTI chairman Imran Khan’s request for the second time to stop the trial court’s proceedings in the Toshakhana case.
Just last week, the apex court had declined to intervene in the criminal proceedings against the former premier. Instead, it had urged the Islamabad High Court to decide the pending petitions of Imran Khan.
However, Khan’s lawyers approached the apex court once again, seeking suspension of the trial. Notably, the plea had come after a sessions court in Islamabad had rejected the PTI chief’s request to defer his trial.
File photo of PTI chairman Imran Khan. Supreme Court rejected his plea seeking suspension of his trial in Toshakhana case.
Today, a three-member SC bench headed by Justice Yahya Afridi conducted the hearing.
PTI lawyer Khawaja Haris informed the court that the trial court has ordered the witnesses to be produced. If they fail to do so, the right of defense will be lost.
“The IHC took notice of four petitions but did not grant an injunction order,” Haris told the SC.
Justice Yahya Afridi urged the PTI chief’s counsel to think more about the case.
“It would be better to wait for the high court’s directives instead of having the SC issue orders,” he said.
The judge said, “Your application had become ineffective, but we still entertained it and issued orders. We do understand the situation. We had expected that the high court would issue better orders for you.”
Upon the judge’s prompting, Haris also informed the court that the IHC is scheduled to conduct its hearing on the matter tomorrow (Thursday).
Nonetheless, the court issued notices on the PTI chief’s request. The apex court also summoned the ECP officials on August 4 before adjourning proceedings.
