The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended Imran Khan’s three-year sentence in the Toshakhana corruption case and ordered his release from jail. The order came as a major relief to Pakistan’s embattled former Prime Minister ahead of the forthcoming General Elections. Though Khan’s sentence has been suspended but he was not being released as a special court holding his trial in the Official Secrets Act directed the Attock Jail authorities to keep him in the “judicial lockup” and produce him on August 30 before the court in connection with the cipher case.
Earlier, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Jahangiri announced the much-anticipated verdict which was reserved on Monday.
“Decision of District Court (has been) suspended by IHC,” Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said in a WhatsApp message.
The Bench also ordered release of the 70-year-old leader on the production of surety bonds worth Rs100,000. Khan’s legal counsel Naeem Haider Panjotha posted on X, “The CJ has accepted our request, suspended the sentence and said a detailed decision would be provided later.”