Court adjourns hearing of Pakistan ex-premier's appeal against conviction

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – A Pakistani court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's appeal against his conviction in a graft case.

A two-judge bench, headed by Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Justice Aamer Farooq, will resume the hearing tomorrow.

Khan, who was sentenced to three years in jail for concealing details about the foreign gifts he had received during his nearly four-year stint by an Islamabad court earlier this month, is serving a prison sentence in northwestern Attock city.

Khan's lawyer, Latif Khosa, a former governor of northeastern Punjab province, argued that the trial court that convicted the ex-premier had no jurisdiction to do so.

He prayed that the trial court verdict be set aside, while also pleading with the court to declare Khan's conviction and sentence “illegal and without lawful authority,” and to acquit him of the charges.

Thursday's hearing follows remarks by the Supreme Court chief justice who spotted loopholes in Khan's conviction.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, which is hearing a parallel petition against Khan's conviction, will resume hearing next week, local broadcaster Geo News reported.

Earlier on Thursday, the apex court, during the hearing, remarked that it would take up the matter after the Islamabad High Court delivers its judgment over Khan's appeal.

Bandial, who will retire next month, however, said the apex court would wait for the IHC’s order on Khan's appeal against his conviction and sentence in the graft case, commonly known as a "Toshakhana" case before “interfering” in the matter.