Islamabad: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Tuesday fixed Feb 7 to indict Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case. The indictment date was announced by the Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal while hearing a criminal case against the PTI chairman, when he (Imran Khan) repeatedly failed to appear before the court despite his summoning.
The court directed Imran Khan to submit surety bonds of Rs20, 000 to ensure his presence on the next date of hearing, which is fixed for his indictment. Earlier on October 21, 2022, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified PTI chief Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1) (p) for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”. The ECP had held that the PTI chief had submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1) (p). The ECP had also declared that Imran Khan had made “false statements and incorrect declarations, therefore he had also committed the offence of corrupt practices defined under Sections 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017”.
The ECP held that the offence was, punishable under Section 174 of the Elections Act, 2017 and directed legal proceedings and follow-up action under Section 190(2) of the Elections Act. The ECP had also sent a reference to a trial court to begin criminal proceedings in the case. On November 22, 2022, the trial court had taken up the Toshakhana reference filed by Election Commission against Imran Khan for allegedly indulging in corrupt practices.