Imran Khan on the way to Islamabad to attend Toshakhana case hearing

PTI chief Imran Khan has left for Islamabad from Zaman Park, his residence, Lahore to appear in district and sessions court in a case pertaining to the Toshakhana case.
A video uploaded by the PTI on its Twitter account showed that the former prime minister leaving for Islamabad to attend the hearing.
“Tomorrow, he will appear before the trial court in Islamabad,” Imran’s lawyer, Azhar Siddique, told Reuters on Friday after Imran left a Lahore high court that had granted him bail in several other cases against him.
The legal proceedings against Imran began after he was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote early last year.
Since then, the 70-year-old politican has been demanding a snap election and holding protests across the country. He was shot and wounded at one of those rallies.
Incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Imran’s demands, saying an election would be held as scheduled later this year.
The political infighting comes as nuclear-armed Pakistan struggles with an economic crisis. It is awaiting a bailout package of $1.1 billion from the IMF.
The case before the Islamabad High Court accuses Imran of selling luxury watches and other items that were given to the state during his 2018-2022 term as prime minister. The Election Commission of Pakistan found him guilty and barred him from holding public office for one parliamentary term.
Earlier this week, Imran told supporters that he had not attended the hearings because he feared for his safety.
An Islamabad district and sessions court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan over persistent absences in the Toshakhana case on February 28. Earlier, the court had twice deferred the former premier’s indictment on medical grounds.
Additional District and Sessions Court judge Zafar Iqbal had adjourned the hearing of the case till March 7.
The reference was filed by lawmakers from the ruling coalition, Pakistan Democratic Movement, last year. It alleges that Imran had not shared details of the state gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana (during his time as the prime minister) and proceeds from their reported sales.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) concluded on October 21 that ex-PM Imran had made “false statements and incorrect declarations” regarding the gifts.
The Toshakhana is a department under the Cabinet Division that stores gifts given to rulers and government officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. According to Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.
The country’s top electoral authority’s order had said Imran stood disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.
“He is for the time being disqualified from being elected or chosen as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) or of a Provincial Assembly under any law for the time being in force,” said the law which falls under the Disqualifications for membership of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).
Later, the ECP approached the Islamabad district and sessions the court with a copy of the reference. It sought proceedings against Imran under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the state gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his time as the prime minister.