IHC suspends former captain Imran Khan's sentence in Toshakhana case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday suspended sentence of former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the Toshakhana case.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said appeal against the punishment would be fixed for hearing after Eid holidays. 

Accountability court's Judge Muhammad Bashir had sentenced Imran and Bushra to 14 years in prison with rigorous punishment in the Toshakhana reference in January.

The judge had also disqualified the former prime minister for 10 years while handing over a fine of Rs1.57 billion — Rs787 million each — to the couple.

Imran had told the court that his wife had nothing to do with the case and was being humiliated by being forcibly dragged into it.

IHC CJ Farooq, during the hearing, said the cipher case would be completed in a few days. “Also, we cannot fix the Toshakhana case for hearing the very next day after holding a hearing on it today.”

He said the cypher case was fixed for hearing the next day.

The court said arguments of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had to begin in the cipher case and he did not know how long it would take. Hence, the Toshakhana case is being postponed till after Eid. 

Imran played 88 Tests and 175 ODIs for Pakistan over the course of his illustrious career.

His averages, 37 with the bat and 22 with the ball, kept him at the top of the quartet of star all-rounders, Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev being the others, who impressed one and all in Test cricket in the 1980s.

During Imran's last 10 years of international cricket, he featured in 51 Tests, averaging a remarkable 50 with the bat and 19 with the ball.

Imran also led Pakistan to their first series victory in England in 1987 but the best moment of his career came when the Men in Green clinched the 1992 World Cup trophy under his inspirational leadership.