Rawalpindi:
Following the announcement of a 17‑year sentence in the Toshakhana II case, former Prime Minister Imran Khan remained composed and even smiled, according to his lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar. Speaking to media near Adiala Jail, Safdar said Khan was neither surprised nor shaken by the verdict and immediately instructed his legal team to file an appeal in the High Court on behalf of himself and his wife Bushra Bibi.
Lawyer’s Statement
Safdar criticized the manner in which the judgment was delivered, claiming that the court announced the decision in the absence of defense lawyers. He alleged that the judge had already prepared a 59‑page written verdict and read it out without completing the scheduled arguments. “The judge acted unlawfully by pronouncing the decision without counsel present,” Safdar remarked.
He added that the legal team was informed only late at night that proceedings would take place the next morning at 9 a.m., leaving them unprepared. “We were expecting arguments, not a final judgment. The judge left early, security was unusually tight, and it became clear something was about to happen,” he said.
Concerns Over Legal Process
Safdar argued that hearings at Adiala Jail rarely result in merit‑based decisions, noting that relief has historically come from the High Court. He pointed out that Bushra Bibi’s hearing was not properly scheduled and that legal requirements under Section 10‑A were not fulfilled.
He also referenced the Al‑Qadir Trust case, saying multiple petitions had been filed but remained pending. “One year has passed since the Al‑Qadir verdict, yet no proper hearing was conducted. Yesterday there was only one sentence, today another was added,” he said.
Imran Khan’s Instructions and Condition
According to Safdar, Khan directed his lawyers to pursue appeals in the High Court for both himself and his wife. He added that Khan has been kept under difficult conditions, without access to books, and struggles to meet his legal team due to heavy security. “It was very difficult to meet him. We barely had three minutes to talk,” Safdar said, while emphasizing that Khan’s morale remained high.
Repeated Toshakhana Cases
Safdar further claimed that the Toshakhana case has been repeatedly filed, noting that NAB had brought it up four times. “Our requests for rehearing were never entertained. The verdict was written before arguments could even conclude,” he alleged.