Lahore Mirror — The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s sentence awarded to him in the Toshakhana case.
According to the local media reports, the court announced the short verdict that it reserved a day earlier wherein it directed the authorities to release the PTI chief on bail.
The court said it would detail the reasons for the suspension of the sentence in the detailed verdict to be issued later.
“The copy of the judgment will be available shortly … all we are saying now is that [Imran’s] request has been approved,” Justice Farooq said.
PTI chairman’s aide on legal affairs Naeem Haider Panjotha also confirmed the same in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “The CJ has accepted our request, suspended the sentence and said a detailed decision would be provided later.”
چیف جسٹس صاحب نے ہماری درخواست منظور کر لی،سزا معطل کرتے ہوۓ کہا ہے کہ تفصیلی فیصلہ بعد میں لے لیجیے گا.
— Naeem Haider Panjutha (@NaeemPanjuthaa) August 29, 2023
Hareem Shah also welcomed the verdict of the IHC on X.
پاکستانی قوم کو مبارک ہو ہائیکورٹ نے خان صاحب کو توشہ خانہ کیس میں باعزت بری کر دیا۔
ﻧَﺼْﺮٌ ﻣِّﻦ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﻭَﻓَﺘْﺢٌ ﻗَﺮِﻳﺐٌ 🤲🏻#ImranKhan pic.twitter.com/NvITxHkwQH— Hareem Shah (@_Hareem_Shah) August 29, 2023
A day ago, ECP’s counsel Advocate Amjad Pervaiz concluded his arguments and urged the court to issue a notice to the state to make it a respondent in the case. For his part, Imran’s lawyer Latif Khosa had said he had no objections to Pervaiz’s plea but had also expressed that the action was not required by the law.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) last night, former interior minister Rana Sanaullah said, “He [Imran] will not come outside [of the jail] — release is not possible, [he] will have to face the prosecution in other cases!”
وہ باہر نہیں آئیں گے — رہائی ممکن نہیں، دیگر کیسز میں Prosecution کا سامنا کرنا ہو گا!
— Rana Sana Ullah Khan (@RanaSanaullahPK) August 28, 2023
Ahead of today’s proceedings, PTI lawyers Babar Awan and Salman Safdar reached the IHC. Speaking to media persons outside court, Awan said their fight was not just for a single case or one judgment.
“You all are in a bigger prison and we want to free all of you,” he said.
Shehbaz Sharif comments on IHC verdict on Toshakhana case
Responding to Imran Khan’s suspension, Former Shehbaz Sharif tweeted, “Ladley’s sentence isn’t terminated, just suspended. Chief Justice’s messages of ‘Good to see you’ and ‘Wishing you good luck’ reached Islamabad High Court.
Even before the verdict, everyone anticipates its outcome, casting momentary doubt on justice. If the higher judiciary sends a clear message, what’s left for the subordinate courts?
Nawaz Sharif’s punishment was overseen by a judge, while the Chief Justice assumed the role of Ladley’s reprieve. This justice system’s behavior will stain history’s pages. When the balance tips and justice is compromised, the system falters.
Law bows to the sentinel. Criminals and state offenders find leniency, leaving the common man in search of justice.
Be it May 9 or an attack on the judicial complex, or even raining petrol bombs on the police — regrets linger.”
لاڈلے کی سزا معطل ہوئی ہے ختم نہیں ہوئی۔ چیف جسٹس کا “گُڈ ٹو سی یو” اور “وشنگ یو گڈ لک” کا پیغام اسلاآباد ہائی کورٹ تک پہنچ گیا۔ فیصلہ آنے سے پہلے ہی سب کو پتہ ہو کہ فیصلہ کیا ہوگا تو یہ نظام عدل کے لئے لمحہ فکریہ ہونا چاہیے ۔ اعلی عدلیہ سے واضح پیغام مل جائے تو ماتحت عدالت یہ نہ…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 29, 2023
