- Everyone knows justice bulldozed, buried in the case: Shaheen
- PTI will challenge the verdict in high court, SC: Gohar
- Panjutha asks how a verdict containing 30 pages be written within 30 minutes
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legal wizards termed the biased and one-sided judgement rendered in Toshakhana Case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan as a politically motivated, fixed match and murder of justice, which, they said would be challenged in the high court as well as in Supreme Court.
They said that article 10A of the Constitution guaranteed an absolute and unqualified right to a fair trial and due process including an opportunity to defend the case, an adequate opportunity to prepare the defence, a right to a hearing, an independent and impartial judge etc.
Addressing a press conference at National Press Club (NPC) in Islamabad on Saturday, the leader of the PTI legal team Shoaib Shaheen flanked by Barrister Gohar Khan and Naeem Haider Panjutha, said that the verdict in the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan was totally wrong and one-sided.
Shoaib Shaheen said that the decision against Imran Khan was nothing but a fixed match, as it was their right to defend and present witnesses.
However, he said that when they sought time to bring the witnesses, the request was not granted and the verdict was given before the right to defend, adding that such a judge did not deserve to be sat on the chair of justice who could not serve justice.
The PTI leader announced that they would file a petition in the High Court and the apex court against the biased and flawed decision.
Shoaib Shaheen lamented that all unconstitutional acts were being done with PTI workers, asking as how the Islamabad police reached Lahore so quickly.
Shoaib Shaheen said Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, Yusuf Raza Gilani and Maryam Nawaz were all convicted of the crime in Toshakhana case, adding that the only allegation against Khan was that money was written in assets statement but no details were given in this form. However, he stated that there was no option for details in the form.
Further, he stated that all institutions including the establishment were with this biased judge, as their sole agenda was to target PTI Chairman for political purposes, as everyone knew that justice had been bulldozed and buried.
Shoaib Shaheen asked as to why police team reached PTI Central Secretariat in G-8 in the wee hour, which showed the decision was already written. He said that PTI leaders were detained eight times but justice was not served.
The PTI legal team leader recalled that Justice Aamir Farooq said that no one’s right to defense can be suspended, but they were deprived of this right. He said that PTI Chairman PTI was attacked and 180 cases were filed against him but he did not flee to London or Dubai and he was still facing the cases.
Speaking on the occasion, PTI’s lawyer Barrister Gohar Khan said that the Islamabad High Court ordered to take a decision within seven days, as it did not ask to give a verdict within a day.
Barrister Gohar Khan said that he personally requested the judge to provide a level playing field but he gave the decision by trampling their constitutional legal rights. He stated that the IHC did not order to announce decision by 12-30 as they sought time to gather the requirement documents.
Gohar appealed to the apex court to give them a chance to hear their case at the earliest.
On the occasion, PTI lawyer Naeem Haider Panjutha said that the first injustice was done by conducting an unlawful operation in Zaman Park for 26 hours and again today, PTI Chairman was detained without arrest warrant.
Naeem Haider Panjutha said that the judge did not even complain to anyone about his Facebook ID, adding that they were busy with the case, no name of their lawyer was written in the order.
Panjutha said that at 12 o’clock it was said that the verdict would be pronounced at 12:30, and he asked can a verdict containing 30 pages be written so quickly. He said that they had been raising objections against Judge Humayun Dilawar Khan for the last three months.
The PTI lawyer said that it was nowhere mentioned in the IHC order that the verdict should be pronounced in a single day, adding that their fight for supreme of law and constitution would be continued despite all odds.
Naeem Haider Panjutha a hoped that the decision would be challenged in the High court and Supreme Court and justice would be done, as the sentence would be suspended and PTI Chairman would be released soon.