Chairman PTI's plea to stop Tosha Khana trial rejected

Islamabad: Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan's plea to stay the Tosha Khana trial.

Before the hearing of the case in Supreme Court, there was noise outside the courtroom in the presence of Chairman PTI, responding to which head of the bench, Justice Yahya Afridi, directed to maintain judicial respect, otherwise we will not hear the case.

Due to noise in the court, the bench stopped the hearing for some time, however when the court decorum was restored, the judges returned and heard the case.

During the hearing of the case in Supreme Court, Chairman PTI Imran Khan's lawyer Khawaja Haris argued that there are two petitions pending in High Court, one of them is for hearing and the other is the plea to transfer the Toshakhana case. The trial court judges are biased, they have Facebook posts.

On this, Justice Yahya said the court will not interfere in the matter of the trial court, “Will ask the high court to hear your pending petitions together”.

He added that jurisdiction is the main point, it should be decided first. Whatever you want to say, say before Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Justice Yahya Afridi continued to say that IHC had sent the matter to the trial court, to which Khawaja Haris said: “We had raised objections against the judge and requested to send the case to another judge”.

The head judge replied that he can only request the High Court, while Justice Musrat Hilali said that Tosha Khana's trial has entered the final stage.

Justice Yahya: “I think we should avoid interfering in this matter at this time”.

Later, the court in its order said that Islamabad High Court should hear and give its verdict both the petitions.