RAWALPINDI: A Pakistani court has rejected the bail pleas of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, former first lady Bushra Bibi, in a new Toshakhana case. The couple faces allegations of misusing their positions to acquire state gifts.
The hearing took place inside Adiala Jail, where both Khan and Bushra were present. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand announced the verdict as the couple is set to be indicted on October 2. This follows the Supreme Court’s decision to transfer the case from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Khan has been imprisoned for nearly a year due to convictions in multiple cases, including two related to Toshakhana, the cipher case, and the Iddat case, for which his wife is also incarcerated. The new Toshakhana allegations emerged shortly after their acquittal in the Iddat case.
During the hearing, the FIA prosecutor informed the court that the couple had received a jewelry set. The prosecutor revealed that the jewelry—a necklace and earrings—was valued at Rs71.5 million, while the couple had declared its worth at Rs5.8 million. He argued that they failed to submit the jewelry to the Toshakhana repository, which stores gifts received by officials.
Barrister Salman Safdar, representing Khan and Bushra, contended that the new case mirrored previous allegations and should be dismissed in light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on NAB amendments.
Following a brief recess, the court announced its decision to deny bail.
The jewelry set, which includes a ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings, was gifted to Bushra Bibi in May 2021. The NAB reference states that the couple illegally retained the jewelry, which was not deposited in Toshakhana. The estimated value of the set was approximately Rs70.56 million at the time, with the national exchequer reportedly suffering a loss of around Rs30.28 million due to undervaluation.
The reference claims that Imran Khan misused his powers by keeping 58 out of 108 gifts received during his tenure as prime minister. Despite securing relief in some cases, Khan remains in custody due to the ongoing Toshakhana investigation and other legal matters arising from the events of May 9.
