by Khalid Yousaf Chaudry
The Islamabad High Court is scheduled to hear Criminal Appeal No. 273/2023 filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case on March 12, 2026.
The appeal challenges the conviction delivered by Humayun Dilawar on August 5, 2023, which resulted in Imran Khan’s arrest shortly after the verdict. The hearing will be conducted by a two-member bench comprising Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Khadim Hussain Soomro at 11:30 AM.
During the hearing, the court will also consider a miscellaneous application regarding Imran Khan’s health and medical examination.
Following the conviction in August 2023, Imran Khan was taken into custody and later spent 23 days in prison in connection with the case. On August 28, 2023, the Islamabad High Court granted him bail. However, he was not released due to his arrest in the Cipher case.
The Toshakhana conviction also led to his disqualification from electoral politics and party leadership, preventing him from contesting the 2024 Pakistani general election.
Legal observers note that if the Islamabad High Court rules in favor of Imran Khan on the merits of the appeal, one of the four disqualifications imposed on him in various cases could potentially be lifted, which may impact his future participation in parliamentary politics.