ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday removed all objections to the appeals filed by PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi against their convictions in the Toshakhana-II case and directed that the appeals be formally numbered and fixed for hearing.
During proceedings in the Toshakhana matter, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro heard the appeals against the sentences awarded to Imran and his spouse. Barristers Salman Safdar and Salman Akram Raja appeared before the court, while Imran Khan’s three sisters were also present.
Barrister Salman Safdar informed the court that the Registrar’s Office had raised objections to their appeals without their knowledge. He said they only became aware of the objections when they filed applications for suspension of sentence.
According to him, the objections were unwarranted, including one claiming that the power of attorney was outdated, an objection that was later withdrawn and accepted by the office itself.
He further stated that the office objected to the pages not being flagged and the sequence not being properly arranged.
Justice Soomro remarked that the court was addressing the remaining objections. When Safdar questioned the objection regarding unflagged pages, the judge, smiling, observed that the lawyer could simply flag the pages.
The court granted seven days to remove the remaining objections.
The court accepted two miscellaneous applications filed by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, one seeking removal of objections on the main appeal and another requesting extension of time to address the objections.
£190 million case
In parallel proceedings, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard miscellaneous applications seeking an early hearing of petitions for suspension of sentences in the £190 million case.
Barrister Salman Safdar argued that Imran Khan was suffering from an eye condition and was being taken to the hospital for treatment.
He clarified that he was not seeking immediate hearing of the main appeal but pointed out that the suspension of sentence petitions had remained pending for nearly a year.
He told the court that despite filing five miscellaneous applications, the Registrar’s Office had not fixed the matter for hearing. He also noted that Bushra Bibi’s petition had been pending for the same duration and urged the bench to assign an early date.
The CJ expressed displeasure when a large number of PTI-affiliated lawyers approached the rostrum, asking whether they were attempting to influence the court.
Accepting the request for an expedited hearing, the bench directed that the suspension petitions be fixed for March 11.
