PTI chief moves IHC after trial court rejects witness list in Toshakhana case

He pleads the high court to hear the case today

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman on Thursday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the ruling of a trial court that has rejected his witnesses in the Toshakhana case.

Requesting the IHC to take up the petition today, the former prime has pleaded it to declare the trial court’s decision null and void. He asked the high court to restore his defence right in the case.

On Wednesday, a district and sessions court in the federal capital turned down the PTI chief’s witnesses in the Toshakhana case for failing to prove their relevant in the case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against him for not declaring his Toshakana gifts in the asset declarations.

During the hearing, Additional Sessions Judge said the a list for four defence witnesses was submitted by the PTI lawyer in the case but they were not presented in court to record their statements.

He further pointed out that all the witnesses were tax consultants while the case was related to concealing of Toshakhana gifts and submitting fake affidavit. He added that the PTI chief had failed to prove the relevancy of the witnesses in the case, hence, no permission will be granted to present them in court.

Later, he summoned the both sides to submit final arguments in the case, adding that a verdict would be reserved if they fail to appear before him.