Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s sentence in Tosha Khana case cancelled

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday suspended the sentence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Tosha Khana case, GNN reported.

According to the details, a two-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of IHC Aamer Farooq heard PTI founder Imran Khan's request for suspension of sentence in the Tosha Khana case, in which Barrister Ali Zafar argued on behalf of Imran Khan.

During the hearing, the court asked whether the appeal is scheduled for hearing today. We will not initiate an appeal, argue for suspension of sentence if you wish.

On this, Ali Zafar said that instead of suspending the sentence, we will argue on the central appeal.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said that after hearing the Tosha Khana case today, we cannot set it for hearing tomorrow. The arguments of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) are to begin in cypher case. We don't know how long they take, let’s set the Tosha Khana case for hearing after Eid-ul-Fitr.

During the hearing of the case, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor said that the decision has been reviewed and this is a case of suspension of sentence. On this, the court said that this is a highly commendable stand of NAB.

Later, the court suspended the sentence of PTI founder Imran Khan in the Tosha Khana case.

It is pertinent to note that on January 31, the founder of PTI and former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labor in the Tosha Khana reference.

Judge Mohammad Basheer of Accountability Court Islamabad, while pronouncing the Tosha Khana reference in Adiala Jail, also disqualified Imran Khan and his wife from holding any public office for 10 years.

Accountability Court Islamabad has also imposed a fine of Rs780 million on both the accused.

Later on February 16, Imran Khan approached the courts against the sentences handed down in the Cypher, Tosha Khana and Nikah cases.

On February 26, the IHC issued a notice to the NAB on the appeals against the conviction of founder PTI and Bushra Bibi in the Tosha Khana NAB case and sought its response.

It is pertinent to note August 5, 2023, the court of Islamabad convicted Imran Khan of corruption in the Tosha Khana case and sentenced him to three years in prison and was arrested from his residence.

Later, on August 29, the Islamabad High Court ordered the release of Imran Khan, who was imprisoned in Attock Jail after his arrest in the Tosha Khana case.

However, the special court had ordered to keep the former prime minister in jail under the Official Secrets Act in the cypher case.

On December 6, the Islamabad High Court rejected former Premier Imran Khan's appeal against his disqualification in the Tosha Khana reference.