IHC denies issuing verdict in Tyrian White case against Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued a clarification regarding Tyrian White case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, stating that no verdict in the case had been announced.

The clarification was issued after it was reported that the IHC rejected the petition seeking the PTI chief disqualification in the case.

In a statement, the IHC said a three-judge bench, headed by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, reserved the verdict in the case on March 30.

The majority decision of the two judges — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir — dismissing the petition against the PTI chief was uploaded on the IHC official website.

The IHC statement said the “opinion” of two judges cannot be termed as verdict and uploaded on the website unless it is signed by the chief justice, all respondents and lawyers were informed about the verdict date through the cause list. It said the verdict was uploaded on the website against the norms and a strict action against the responsible would be taken.

It further said that a new bench was being constituted by the IHC CJ to hear the Tyrian White case.

The case

The petitioner, Mohammad Sajid, had alleged that Imran Khan had not disclosed his alleged daughter — Tyrian — in his nomination papers.

He alleged that Khan provided incorrect information while submitting his nomination papers for the general elections held in 2018.

The petitioner also said that even though the former prime minister has three children, he had mentioned only two in the papers and concealed the existence of his third child.

The petitioner’s lawyers argued that the PTI chief did not declare Tyrian as his daughter in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) due to which he cannot hold the position of party chairman.

The petitioner had alleged that the former premier did not marry his alleged girlfriend Sita White, mother of Tyrian, because her father told Khan that he would not get a “penny” from his wealth if he married Sita.

The petition, titled “Imran versus Imran — the untold story”, also claimed that the custody of Tyrian was given to Jemima, the former wife of Khan.

It added that Sita in her will of Feb 27, 2004, had nominated Jemima as guardian of her daughter Tyrian. Sita died that year on May 13.

“Jemima Goldsmith had been the spouse of Imran Khan (1995-2004)."

“The concealed facts stood confirmed by a judgement of paternity rendered by a superior court in California in favour of Sita White where it was held that the respondent (Imran Khan) was the father of Tyrian Jade.”

The PTI chief initially joined the proceedings but later backtracked after he was asked to undergo a blood test, it added.