Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi Indicted in New Toshakhana Case

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were indicted on Thursday in a new Toshakhana case, marking the third corruption reference against them.

The case revolves around the alleged acquisition of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set at a substantially undervalued price.

The indictment was delivered a week after Imran Khan and several other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders were charged in connection with the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) during the May 9 protests last year.

Despite being granted bail in the GHQ case by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in October, Khan remains in custody due to numerous other charges stemming from his arrest on August 5, 2023.

Court Proceedings

Special Court Central-I Judge Shahrukh Arjumand presided over Thursday’s proceedings held at Adiala Jail, where Khan was presented. Bushra Bibi, who is out on bail, appeared with her legal counsel. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court has summoned prosecution witnesses to testify on December 18.

Previous Indictments

This latest indictment is Khan’s seventh. His prior charges include:

May 10, 2023: The first Toshakhana case.

January 2024: The second Toshakhana reference.

February 2024: The £190 million corruption case.

May 2024: Charges related to the GHQ attack.

December 2023: The cipher case.

January 2024: The Iddat case.

While some convictions in earlier Toshakhana cases were suspended, other trials remain ongoing. Notably, Khan and Bushra Bibi’s testimonies in the £190 million case have brought that trial to its final stage.

Details of the New Case

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) alleges that the couple retained an expensive Bulgari jewellery set, which included a necklace, earrings, bracelets, and rings, at a price significantly lower than its assessed value.

The alleged undervaluation is said to have caused substantial losses to the state exchequer.

Imran Khan’s legal team has rejected the allegations, asserting that the gifts were acquired under the 2018 Toshakhana policy and paid for based on evaluations by customs officials and appraisers.

The defence also claimed that appraiser Sohaib Abbasi was coerced into altering his statement to implicate Khan.

Timeline of Developments

July 13, 2024: The couple was apprehended in the case after being acquitted in the Iddat case earlier that day.

October 24, 2024: Bushra Bibi secured bail in the case and was released after nine months in detention.

November 14, 2024: The court dismissed the couple’s acquittal pleas and deferred the indictment.

September 2024: Following amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws, the case was transferred to an FIA special court from an accountability court.

In its reference, NAB claimed that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi retained 58 out of 108 gifts received during his tenure, paying an undervalued amount of over Rs142 million.

Related Developments

In a separate case, a Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) indicted former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and others for their alleged involvement in the Shadman police station attack during the May 9 riots.

PTI Punjab President Dr. Yasmin Rashid, former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed were among the accused.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty. Legal representation was provided by Advocates Burhan Moazzam Malik and Rana Mudassar.

The hearing was conducted by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul at Kot Lakhpat Jail.