Imran Khan not eligible to contest upcoming polls as IHC bins his plea in Toshakhana case

Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed the plea of former prime minister Imran Khan against his disqualification in the Toshakhana case.

The rejection of plea means the former prime minister and PTI founding chief will not be able to contest upcoming general elections.

A two-member bench, led by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, conducted the hearing.

Imran Khan approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking suspension of the trial court verdict in the Toshakhana case in October.

In a criminal complaint filed by the ECP, Imran Khan was convicted by a trial court on August 5 and sentenced to three years in prison for not disclosing the gifts he received from the official gifts repository in his annual statements of assets and liabilities.

On August 28, the IHC suspended the trial court's order.

Toshakhana case

Established in 1974, Toshakhana, a Persian word meaning "treasure house," falls under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division.

It stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states, as well as foreign dignitaries, as a goodwill gesture.

Valuables housed in Toshakhana range from bulletproof cars and gold-plated souvenirs to expensive paintings, watches, ornaments, rugs, and swords.