The hearing of the Toshakhana-II case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) founder and his wife, Bushra Bibi, was adjourned without proceedings until October 6.
The court has directed that the trial will now be conducted on a daily basis until its conclusion.
The proceedings before Special Judge Central Shah Rukh Arjumand could not continue after defense lawyer Qausain Faisal Mufti failed to appear due to illness. The court accepted his adjournment request despite the absence of a medical certificate.
During the hearing, the judge observed that defense lawyers had also been absent on the previous date, remarking that it appeared they were attempting to prolong the case. The court made it clear that no further delays would be accepted, instructing all three defense lawyers to ensure their presence at the next hearing.
The judge underlined that the case was in its final stages and involved two accused currently in jail, stressing that justice required a timely decision. He ruled that the trial would proceed daily until completion.
So far, cross-examination has been completed on 19 out of 20 prosecution witnesses. The final witness, NAB investigation officer Mohsin Haroon, has been ordered to appear on October 6 for cross-examination.
Separately, PTI leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar strongly criticized the government on Thursday, raising questions over the presence of social activist Shama Junejo at the recent United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
Speaking on the floor of the Assembly, Qaisar asked how Junejo, who holds no official government position, was allowed to sit directly behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during the high-profile session. He termed it a breach of protocol and demanded clarity from the government over her inclusion in the official Pakistani delegation.
Khawaja Asif, responding to the criticism, distanced himself from Junejo’s presence, saying he had no role in her being seated with the delegation. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar declined to comment on the controversy when pressed in the Assembly.
Shama Junejo, however, clarified her position in a statement, saying that her inclusion in the delegation was approved by the Prime Minister’s Office. “I was invited and made part of the official delegation by the Prime Minister himself,” she said, rejecting the criticism.
Alongside the issue, Asad Qaisar also lashed out at the government for “siding with Donald Trump” on his proposed Middle East peace plan. He argued that the government had failed to stand firmly with the united stance of Muslim countries on Palestine. “The government’s mixed signals are damaging Pakistan’s credibility. We cannot compromise on Palestine at any cost,” Qaisar asserted.
The twin controversies – over delegation management and foreign policy on Palestine – have stirred heated debate in the National Assembly, with the opposition demanding transparency and a clear stance from the government on both matters.