IHC fixes Imran’s appeal to restore right of defence in Toshakhana case

IHC urged to order shifting of Imran Khan from Attock to Adiyala Jail,

ISLAMABAD- The Islamabad High Court has fixed for hearing the request to restore the right of defence to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman in the Toshakhana case.

Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Amir Farooq will hear the appeal on August 10 to restore the right of defence to the former prime minister.

The court has issued a notice to the Election Commission in this regard seeking its response.

It should be remembered that the trial court had terminated the right of defence of PTI chairman in the Toshakhana case, the trial court had declared the list of witnesses on behalf of PTI chairman irrelevant.

The PTI chairman had filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court seeking permission to produce witnesses.

The Supreme Court Bar Association reacted on Saturday to the arrest of PTI chairman in the Toshakhana case.

In a joint statement, the President and Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar said that it was unfortunate that the court gave its verdict without giving the accused a fair opportunity to be heard, deciding the case in haste in the absence of the PTI chairman’s counsel.

Earlier,

A petition was filed in Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday seeking transfer of imprisoned PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan from Attock to Adiyala Jail in Rawalpindi,

While urging the court to declare PTI chief’s detention in Attock Jail as “against the law”, the application also sought family and lawyers’ meeting with the former premier.

The plea also urged the court to order A-class facilities to Imran Khan in prison.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s three-year sentence for graft prompted scattered rallies around the country, but there was no sign of any mass uprising despite his call for supporters to protest.

His lawyers complained Sunday they were being denied access to him for consultations so they can mount urgent legal challenges against his conviction.

They also raised concern for his confinement at Attock Jail, established 100 years ago on the outskirts of historical Attock city, around 60 kilometres west of Islamabad.

“He is a 70-year-old man and a former elected prime minister so legally he should be given a better class (of conditions) inside the jail,” said Gohar Khan, a member of his legal team.

At a court hearing Imran Khan did not attend Saturday last, a judge found him guilty of graft in relation to gifts he received while prime minister and sentenced him to three years in jail.

Anyone convicted of a criminal offence is disqualified from contesting elections in Pakistan.