Former prime minister Imran Khan at Islamabad High Court

Islamabad : In a significant legal development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has temporarily suspended the sentence of Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in the Toshakhana case. The IHC announced its decision on Tuesday, a day after reserving the verdict, directing the authorities to release Khan on bail.

The court's brief announcement conveyed that a detailed explanation for the suspension of the sentence would be provided in the comprehensive verdict to be issued subsequently. Sources indicate that Khan is required to submit a surety bond of Rs100,000 as a condition for the bail.

This verdict marks a pivotal moment for Khan, who had contested his conviction and the resultant sentence linked to the Toshakhana case. The former Prime Minister had been sentenced to three years in prison earlier this month by a district and sessions court in the federal capital. The conviction not only carried a prison term but also barred him from participating in the upcoming elections scheduled later this year. This outcome had led to Khan's immediate arrest on August 5, and he had been in custody at Attock jail since then.

Khan's legal team petitioned the high court against the decision of the district and sessions court. The division bench of the IHC, consisting of Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, concluded the proceedings on Monday, subsequently reserving the verdict.

The case centered around allegations that Khan, during his tenure as Prime Minister, had acquired and sold valuable gifts received from foreign dignitaries through the Toshakhana department at rates not reflective of their actual worth. The Toshakhana, established in 1974, holds valuable items presented to officials as goodwill gestures.

Khan's legal counsel had presented arguments for the suspension of his client's sentence and pointed out jurisdictional defects. Conversely, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which filed the case, had termed the objections as baseless and asserted that Khan had submitted a false declaration of assets.

The IHC's decision offers Khan a reprieve from immediate incarceration, reflecting the intricacies of legal proceedings and the ongoing debate surrounding the case. This development keeps Imran Khan in the spotlight, with his name trending not only in the legal discourse but also across national discussions about governance, accountability, and the future of Pakistani politics.

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