The Lahore High Court on Wednesday granted PTI chief Imran Khan bail in a case pertaining to fraud and forgery in the sale of Toshakhana gifts, till June 21.
The verdict was issued by the court of Justice Amjad Rafique on a petition filed by the former premier for a protective bail into the case.
Earlier today, PTI chief had filed a plea with the court, saying he was "falsely implicated" citing "malafide intention and ulterior motive".
According to the plea, "The sole objective of naming the petitioner in the FIR is to harass, blackmail and politically victimise him" and requested that the bail be granted.
'Fraud, forgery'
As per the FIR, the accused "committed fraud, forgery for the purpose of cheating and presented a fake receipt of our business letterhead wherein false receipt showing sale purchases of gifts such as watches, cuff links are fraudulently obtained from Toshakhana with false signatures was prepared".
It also said, "As per the record, no such transaction regarding the sale and above-mentioned items has ever taken place with such nominated accused persons and neither the accused persons has sold us any such items," demanding that the nominated persons should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
The report also named Imran's wife Bushra Bibi, former close aide Shahzad Akbar and PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari, among others.
Indictment
Last month, the Islamabad High Court issued a stay order on the criminal proceedings into the case, two days after Imran was charged in the case.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had submitted a complaint asking for criminal charges to be brought against the former premier for failing to provide information on the gifts he received while in office.
The PTI chief was charged on May 10 after an additional sessions judge overruled his lawyer's arguments.
The matter was pursued after a reference was filed by lawmakers against Imran last year for the alleged sale of the state gifts.
The verdict was issued by the court of Justice Amjad Rafique on a petition filed by the former premier for a protective bail into the case.
Earlier today, PTI chief had filed a plea with the court, saying he was "falsely implicated" citing "malafide intention and ulterior motive".
According to the plea, "The sole objective of naming the petitioner in the FIR is to harass, blackmail and politically victimise him" and requested that the bail be granted.
'Fraud, forgery'
As per the FIR, the accused "committed fraud, forgery for the purpose of cheating and presented a fake receipt of our business letterhead wherein false receipt showing sale purchases of gifts such as watches, cuff links are fraudulently obtained from Toshakhana with false signatures was prepared".
It also said, "As per the record, no such transaction regarding the sale and above-mentioned items has ever taken place with such nominated accused persons and neither the accused persons has sold us any such items," demanding that the nominated persons should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
The report also named Imran's wife Bushra Bibi, former close aide Shahzad Akbar and PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari, among others.
Indictment
Last month, the Islamabad High Court issued a stay order on the criminal proceedings into the case, two days after Imran was charged in the case.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had submitted a complaint asking for criminal charges to be brought against the former premier for failing to provide information on the gifts he received while in office.
The PTI chief was charged on May 10 after an additional sessions judge overruled his lawyer's arguments.
The matter was pursued after a reference was filed by lawmakers against Imran last year for the alleged sale of the state gifts.