Pakistan's Court returns Imran Khan's appeal in Toshakhana case
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has declined to accept an appeal filed by former Premier Imran Khan regarding the Toshakhana case. The appeal aimed to overturn a three-year conviction imposed on Mr. Khan in connection with the case.
The appeal, submitted by Imran Khan's counsel Sardar Latif Khosa under Article 185 of the Constitution, was returned by the Supreme Court's registrar's office. This appeal contested the Islamabad High Court's rejection of a similar plea on December 11, 2023, citing a lack of essential elements such as the absence of actual disputes or a clear sequence of previous legal proceedings.
The initial petition sought to reverse the August 5 conviction handed down by an additional sessions judge in Islamabad, which accused Khan of unlawfully selling state gifts.
The registrar’s office cited several deficiencies in the returned appeal, including the absence of a clear and concise statement. The Supreme Court required the petition to include a documented timeline of the legal proceedings, findings from lower courts, as well as issues necessitating consideration and a verdict from the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the petition needed to outline relevant facts, events, and legal breaches or entitlements to relief.
Additionally, the concise statement in the petition needed to be endorsed by a Supreme Court advocate, and the petitioner had not informed the respondents by issuing notices regarding the petition's filing.
Consequently, the court office returned the petition to Imran Khan's lawyers, urging them to rectify these deficiencies within a fortnight by January 6, 2024.
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