ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: As the PTI welcomed the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision to suspend Imran Khan’s sentence in the Toshakhana case on Tuesday, other political parties expressed their concerns over the judiciary’s allegedly favourable treatment of the former prime minister.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said Mr Khan’s sentence had been suspended and “not terminated”. Mr Sharif also took a dig at the chief justice of Pakistan.

“The Chief Justice of Pakistan’s message of ‘good to see you’ and ‘wish you good luck’ has reached the IHC,” he posted on X, claiming that “everyone knew about the verdict before it was even announced”.

“This moment is a matter of concern for our justice system,” Mr Sharif said. “If a clear message is received from the higher judiciary, what else should the subordinate court do?”

Shehbaz claims verdict was foregone conclusion; PTI demands party chief’s release

Ex-minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the detailed verdict had yet to be released, adding that the court had only suspended his sentence as that was the matter pending before it. “This was a short sentence. Ordinarily, sentences are suspended,” he said.

He said Mr Khan’s disqualification had not ended. “This is only suspension of sentence, which means that he be set free in this case if he is not wanted or arrested in another. Apart from this, there is no other definition or meaning of suspension of sentence. Neither his punishment nor his qualification have been ended or even the declaration that he was dishonest.”

‘Release not possible’

In his short tweet last night, before the court decision was announced, former interior minister Rana Sanaullah said, “He [Imran] will not come outside [of the jail] — release is not possible, [he] will have to face the prosecution in other cases!”

The JUI-F also reacted strongly over the court’s decision, with party spokesman Aslam Ghori asserting that the judiciary must be told that the PTI chairman had violated the Constitution.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, spokeswoman for the newly established Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party, said the IHC’s decision had proved justice was different for the rich and the masses. “We demand that all the other prisoners of Attock Jail should get the same facilities and food as enjoyed” by the PTI chief,” she said.

‘Push towards anarchy’

Meanwhile, the PTI demanded its chairman should be immediately released from jail after the suspension of his sentence. A video posted by the party on social media showed lawyers chanting “Riha karo [release him]” outside the IHC.

“The high court has fulfilled the requirements of justice,” PTI Barrister Ali Zafar told Geo News, according to a Dawn.com report.

“I’ll tell you why: Aside from the merits of the Toshakhana case — which are baseless — the trial judge did not allow Imran to submit witnesses in his defence. If witnesses in one’s defence are not allowed, there is no greater [example of a] mistrial,” Mr Zafar said.

However, he clarified that for now only Mr Khan’s sentence had been suspended.

PTI lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said Mr Khan should be provided compensation for the number of days he was kept behind bars.

According to PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, Mr Khan’s arrest in any other case after the suspension of his sentence in the Toshakhana case would be “ill-intentioned and mala fide”.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2023