In a major development, the Islamabad High Court has suspended the three-year sentence of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana corruption case. Khan will continue to remain in judicial remand until he is presented before a special court tomorrow in connection with the cipher case. The decision to suspend his conviction and sentence came after a Bench comprising Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri announced the order. Khan's spokesman on legal affairs, Naeem Haider Panjotha, took to social media to announce the news, expressing gratitude for the suspension of punishment.

Apart from the legal team of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khan's sisters Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan were also present at the court to hear the verdict. Outside the court complex, PTI workers gathered to celebrate the decision, raising slogans for the leader's release. However, the verdict has faced criticism from former Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, who pointed out that the sentence has only been suspended and not terminated. It is worth noting that Khan's conviction was on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts acquired by him and his family during his tenure as prime minister. He has also been barred from politics for five years.

The Islamabad High Court has also ordered Khan's release on bail, bringing relief to the former prime minister. The Supreme Court had earlier observed that there were "shortcomings" in the judgment of the trial court regarding the Toshakhana corruption case. Khan had challenged his conviction, and the IHC began a formal hearing on August 22. His lawyer argued that the verdict was given in haste and was full of shortcomings. As the nation awaits his release, the PTI has moved a petition in the Islamabad High Court, requesting that Khan not be arrested in any new cases filed after August 5 when he was convicted and sentenced.

The suspension of Khan's sentence in the Toshakhana corruption case is seen as a significant moment for the justice system in Pakistan. The decision has brought both relief and celebration among PTI workers and supporters. However, critics maintain that the sentence has only been suspended and not terminated, emphasizing the need for clarity and due process in the judicial system.