Pakistan’s ex-PM Shehbaz slams suspension of Imran Khan’s sentence in Toshakhana case, calls it ‘dark chapter’
The Hindu
Shehbaz Sharif slams SC Chief Justice for favoring Imran Khan, calls verdict a "dark chapter" in country's history. Mr. Sharif alleges leniency by courts to Mr. Khan, questions where common man will get justice.
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 29 slammed Supreme Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial for “favouring” Imran Khan, saying his messages to the lower courts led to the suspension of the sentence of the former Premier and called the verdict a “dark chapter” in the country’s history.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 29 suspended Mr. Khan’s three-year sentence in the Toshakhana corruption case and ordered his release from jail, in a major relief to the former Pakistan Prime Minister. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was sentenced on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts acquired by him and his family during his 2018-2022 tenure.
A Division Bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri announced the much-anticipated verdict which was reserved on August 28. Separately, a three-member Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Bandial and comprising Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail is also set to resume hearing petitions against the Toshakhana case.
Taking to microblogging site X, formerly Twitter, Mr. Sharif said that the IHC had been influenced by the Supreme Court’s leniency toward the PTI chief.
Taking an indirect jibe at Mr. Khan, Mr. Sharif said, “The ‘favourite’s’ sentence has been suspended, not terminated.” “Chief Justice’s message of “Good to see you” and “Wishing you good luck” reached Islamabad High Court. If everyone knows what the decision will be before the decision comes, it should be a moment of concern for the justice system,” the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president said, slamming the court for suspending Mr. Khan’s sentence.
The former Premier further said that when a “clear message” was received from the higher judiciary, the subordinate court would follow suit.
On Wednesday, the apex court, after hearing various petitions against the Toshakhana case, observed that there were “shortcomings” in the judgment of the sessions court.
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