Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar on Saturday declared Imran Khan was proven to be dishonest in the Toshakhana Case and proceeded to sentence him in the criminal case.
He was subsequently arrested from his mansion in Lahore and shifted to the Attock jail.
Pronouncing the judgement in open court, Judge Dilawar said that the charges of deliberately submitting an incorrect affidavit in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), were proven against Imran and he was being sentenced to the maximum of three years in prison and a fine of Rs100,000 under Section 174 of the Elections Act 2017, which penalises a member of parliament for 'corrupt practices'. Should he fail to pay the fine, he will have to spend another six months in jail.
"This court finds it more than convincing that the complainant has produced confidence inspiring, well knitted and corroborated evidence, and so the charge against the accused has successfully been proven that accused has committed offense of corrupt practices by making and publishing false statements / declaration in respect of assets acquired by way of gifts from Toshakhana and disposed of during the years 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and making and publishing a false statement and submitting false and incorrect declaration in material particular relating to Form-B for the year 2020-2021," read the verdict.
Judge Dilawar added that based on the evidence available, Imran has been "found guilty of corrupt practices by hiding the benefits he accrued from national exchequer wilfully and intentionally."
The court asserted that Imran cheated while providing information about gifts he obtained from Toshakhana which later proved to be false and inaccurate.
"His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt."
He has also issued warrants to the Islamabad Police inspector general to arrest Imran Khan and take him to jail.
Imran's lawyer Khawaja Haris appeared before the court and attempted to speak but Judge Dilawar did not allow him to speak.
The matter of maintainability of Imran's petition against the judge, as referred by the IHC, was also rejected.
Earlier on Saturday morning, when proceedings began, and no one from the defence appeared, Judge Dilawar first postponed proceedings until 9 am to give time for the defence to appear.
When the court reconvened, no one from Imran's side had appeared. The judge then adjourned hearings for a second time and directed the defence to appear by 10:30 am.
But when the court reconvened, a junior lawyer from the PTI chairman's team appeared and explained that the main lawyers were in the accountability court; the judge said that the court's verdict in the case was being reserved and will be read out shortly after noon.
Imran Khan arrested
Shortly after the court gave its verdict in Islamabad, a heavy contingent of police reached Imran's palatial mansion in Lahore's Zaman Park. A squad of police officers went in to the home and communicated to Imran's security personnel that the court has ordered his arrest. These were communicated to Imran and the police officers read the former prime minister his rights and arrested him.
They took him out of his house and into a waiting police van and then together with the cavalcade departed for Islamabad via the motorway.
https://twitter.com/nayadaurpk/status/1687743442078830593
As the police motorcade comprising elite force and members of other security forces headed to Zaman Park, measures were taken to prevent PTI workers and Imran's supporters from gathering and creating conditions similar to May 9. In this regard, several thoroughfares were blocked including from Mall Road to Kanal Road, all roads leading to Zaman Park were also blocked.
He was subsequently arrested from his mansion in Lahore and shifted to the Attock jail.
Pronouncing the judgement in open court, Judge Dilawar said that the charges of deliberately submitting an incorrect affidavit in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), were proven against Imran and he was being sentenced to the maximum of three years in prison and a fine of Rs100,000 under Section 174 of the Elections Act 2017, which penalises a member of parliament for 'corrupt practices'. Should he fail to pay the fine, he will have to spend another six months in jail.
Elections Act Section 174
Penalty for corrupt practice.— Any person guilty of the offence of corrupt practice shall be
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to
one hundred thousand rupees or with both
"This court finds it more than convincing that the complainant has produced confidence inspiring, well knitted and corroborated evidence, and so the charge against the accused has successfully been proven that accused has committed offense of corrupt practices by making and publishing false statements / declaration in respect of assets acquired by way of gifts from Toshakhana and disposed of during the years 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and making and publishing a false statement and submitting false and incorrect declaration in material particular relating to Form-B for the year 2020-2021," read the verdict.
Judge Dilawar added that based on the evidence available, Imran has been "found guilty of corrupt practices by hiding the benefits he accrued from national exchequer wilfully and intentionally."
The court asserted that Imran cheated while providing information about gifts he obtained from Toshakhana which later proved to be false and inaccurate.
"His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt."
He has also issued warrants to the Islamabad Police inspector general to arrest Imran Khan and take him to jail.
Imran's lawyer Khawaja Haris appeared before the court and attempted to speak but Judge Dilawar did not allow him to speak.
The matter of maintainability of Imran's petition against the judge, as referred by the IHC, was also rejected.
Earlier on Saturday morning, when proceedings began, and no one from the defence appeared, Judge Dilawar first postponed proceedings until 9 am to give time for the defence to appear.
When the court reconvened, no one from Imran's side had appeared. The judge then adjourned hearings for a second time and directed the defence to appear by 10:30 am.
But when the court reconvened, a junior lawyer from the PTI chairman's team appeared and explained that the main lawyers were in the accountability court; the judge said that the court's verdict in the case was being reserved and will be read out shortly after noon.
Imran Khan arrested
Shortly after the court gave its verdict in Islamabad, a heavy contingent of police reached Imran's palatial mansion in Lahore's Zaman Park. A squad of police officers went in to the home and communicated to Imran's security personnel that the court has ordered his arrest. These were communicated to Imran and the police officers read the former prime minister his rights and arrested him.
They took him out of his house and into a waiting police van and then together with the cavalcade departed for Islamabad via the motorway.
https://twitter.com/nayadaurpk/status/1687743442078830593
As the police motorcade comprising elite force and members of other security forces headed to Zaman Park, measures were taken to prevent PTI workers and Imran's supporters from gathering and creating conditions similar to May 9. In this regard, several thoroughfares were blocked including from Mall Road to Kanal Road, all roads leading to Zaman Park were also blocked.