ISLAMABAD: A trial court seized with the Toshakhana reference framed charges against former prime minister and chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, in a criminal complaint filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for concealing state gifts of Toshakhana.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar passed the indictment order. The PTI chairman, however, pleaded not guilty.

Subsequently, the court commenced the formal trial and directed the prosecution to produce evidence to prove allegations.

The proceeding of the case was conducted in the Police Lines Guest House, which has been declared as a sub-jail.

Former prime minister pleads not guilty

The ECP reference stated that Mr Khan “has deliberately concealed his assets relating to Toshakhana gifts retained by him particularly in years 2018 and 2019 when he was the prime minister in the statements of assets and liabilities filed for the years 2017-2018 and 2018-19”.

According to the ECP’s reference, Mr Khan “has deliberately concealed the material facts by not disclosing details of gifts…has also made evasive and ambiguous statement in his written reply that the gifts purchased by him during the financial year 2019-20 were further gifted by him or on his behalf to others.”

Previously, the ECP heard the petitions against Mr Khan on Toshakhana and ruled against the PTI chairman.

The commission then filed a complaint before the sessions court for initiating criminal proceeding.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also initiated separate investigation against Mr Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi for illegally retaining Toshakhana gifts.

In a report submitted to the IHC, NAB stated that Mr Khan and his spouse received 108 state gifts from August 2018 to April 2022. They retained 58 gifts against Rs38 million.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2023