After hearing the arguments of the parties, the court rejected the request of the Election Commission for an early hearing in the Tosha Khana criminal proceedings case.
Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal heard the case in the District and Sessions Court Islamabad. At the beginning of the hearing, lawyer Khawaja Haris said that what is the justification for setting the hearing early? Money is wasted. Lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the date of April 29 was taken by the will of the Election Commission. After 2 days, the Election Commission has thought to fix the date soon, on which Amjad Pervaiz, the lawyer of the Election Commission, said that we were asking for a date of 2 days, not one month.
Also read this news: Tosha Khana Criminal Case; Imran Khan’s request for exception to attendance approved
Lawyer Khawaja Haris while giving arguments in the court said that the case against Imran Khan was filed by the District Election Commissioner. The Election Commission has also filed a private complaint against People’s Party leader Ali Hyder Gilani. The case against Ali Hyder Gilani was filed last year. It has been a year and still no indictment has been filed in the case of Ali Hyder Gilani. What is the matter that the Election Commission is showing more interest in the case against Imran Khan?
He said that nowadays there is a lot of busyness due to Tehreek-e-Insaaf cases. Due to the abundance of cases, lawyers also need time for preparation. There was also a strike by lawyers on the last hearing. The hearing was adjourned due to a joint strike by lawyers. The case against Ali Hyder Gilani had a history of one and a half months. Then, the Election Commission did not file a request to schedule an early hearing.
Khawaja Haris further said in the arguments that the request of Imran Khan’s security is still under hearing in the court to be exempted from attendance due to the dangers or to be heard on video link. No one is running away from the case. Khawaja Haris, while providing the copy of the pending case of Ali Haider Gilani to the court, said that the request of Election Commission for early hearing is not on merit. Therefore, it is requested that the application for early hearing be dismissed.
Later, Election Commission’s lawyer Amjad Pervez said in his arguments that the cases of Imran Khan and Ali Hyder Gilani are both of different nature. The District Election Commissioner has the authority to file a private complaint. Bribery and non-declaration of assets are two different cases. It is wrong to accuse the Election Commission of discrimination.
Also read: Imran Khan’s arrest warrant canceled in Tosha Khana criminal case
Lawyer Amjad Pervaiz further said that the Supreme Court decided that the trial court should decide on corrupt practices within 3 months. Election Commission petition was filed on merit and Supreme Court decisions. I have been given the right to file a petition on corrupt practices by the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, lawyer Khawaja Haris filed a request for exception from Imran Khan’s presence and said in arguments that more than 100 cases have been registered against Imran Khan. Imran Khan has to appear in the courts with protective bail.
The court said that there is no need to request exemption from attendance, the purpose was that Imran Khan or the lawyer should appear in the court. Khawaja Haris said that nothing happened in Ali Haider Gilani case after one and a half months. Imran Khan’s case has been delayed for a month, so he has suffered. Now there is also a discussion on whether the case is admissible.
Amjad Pervez, the lawyer of the Election Commission, said that they have been calling the case of the Election Commission false for three to four months, if they are true, come to the court. No plea for Imran Khan’s acquittal has come so far.
Later, the court reserved its decision on the request of the Election Commission for early hearing of the case, which was later pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal, who rejected the request of the Election Commission for early hearing of the case.
It should be noted that the hearing of the Tosha Khana criminal proceedings case is scheduled on April 29 and the Election Commission had filed a request for an early hearing of the case.
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