Court grants 7 days for all objections to be removed; Salman Safdar accuses Registrar of creating confusion
Islamabad High Court. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court on Thursday removed all objections on the appeals filed against the Toshakhana case sentences of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. The court also directed that the appeals be numbered and scheduled for hearing.
Barrister Salman Safdar said, “You are seeing us in court for the first time; do not let us leave empty-handed.” Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro remarked, “Both your applications have been approved; you will not leave empty-handed.”
On December 20, a special court sentenced Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana-II case, which centres on allegations that the couple unlawfully retained a Bulgari jewellery set gifted by the Saudi Crown Prince during an official visit to Saudi Arabia.
During the hearing on the appeals against the Toshakhana case sentences, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro presided over the matter. Barristers Salman Safdar and Salman Akram Raja appeared, along with Imran Khan’s three sisters.
Barrister Salman Safdar stated that, “The Registrar’s office had raised objections on our appeal. We were unaware of those objections. When we filed the suspension requests, we found there were objections. Objections were raised on the appeals that were baseless. The Registrar’s office objected that the power of attorney was outdated; later, they withdrew the objection and accepted it. The office also objected that the pages were not flagged and the order was not arranged correctly.”
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro remarked that the court was addressing the remaining objections on the appeals. Barrister Salman Safdar went on to question the objection about unflagged pages, to which the judge, smiling, replied that the lawyer could flag the pages.
The court granted seven days for all remaining objections to be removed. Barrister Salman Safdar said, “We faced many difficulties earlier and hope the process will now become easier. The Registrar’s office has caused confusion.”
Two miscellaneous applications of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were accepted, including one to remove objections on the main appeal and another to extend the time to remove objections. Justice Soomro assured that the applications had been approved and that the parties would not leave empty-handed.
