Toshakhana Case: Imran Khan, Wife Bushra Bibi to be Indicted on October 2″
In a recent statement from Adiala Jail, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan clarified that his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), will not engage in talks with the establishment . This announcement comes after PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan claimed that the party was prepared for dialogue with the establishment, deeming it “inevitable” for the state’s progress,
Speaking to journalists at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Thursday, the PTI founder said there is no use in holding talks with the establishment.
The cricketer-turned-politician said that Hasan had some misunderstanding, adding that he gave a clear message after the Islamabad power show that his party would not hold talks with anyone.
Prior to Khan’s statement, the PTI spokesperson had told a private television channel that the Imran-founded party was ready for talks with the establishment yesterday and was prepared even today for this exercise.
“It has been PTI’s policy that we want to engage with the establishment and I will go a step ahead to say that dialogue between my party and the establishment is inevitable for this state and we must not delay this,” Hasan contended.
He advocated the initiation of dialogue so that solutions to the country’s problems and challenges could be found and Pakistan taken forward.
He disagreed with the questioner that, currently, the policy of establishment was not to engage with PTI and added they have engaged with his party and why he should not be hopeful that they would again engage.
Hasan, however, maintained that a conducive environment would have to be created for which both sides would have to make efforts.
Earlier this month, Khan had closed his doors to talks with all the parties, including the establishment, signalling a hardened stance amidst the ongoing political turmoil.
He also alleged that the establishment had deceived them, and he was closing the doors to negotiations with all the parties.
While,
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi will be indicted in the new Toshakhana reference on October 2, it emerged on Thursday.
The proceedings of the new Toshakhana reference started last week after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was barred from pursuing the matter and the case was transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict restoring amendments to the anti-corruption laws.
The deposed prime minister has been imprisoned for almost a year upon his conviction in four cases — two Toshakhana references, the cipher case, and the Iddat case, in which his wife is also incarcerated.
The new Toshakhana reference against the couple came to the fore after NAB arrested them shortly after a district and sessions court in Islamabad acquitted Khan and Bushra in the iddat case — also known as the un-Islamic nikah case — which was the last hurdle in the couple’s release from jail.
On Thursday (today), Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand heard the post-arrest bail applications of the party founder and his spouse, who were brought to a makeshift court in Adiala prison.
During the hearing, defence lawyers completed their arguments on the applications while the prosecution sought more time in this regard — a demand which drew strong opposition.
Salman Safdar, PTI founder’s counsel, asked the court to decide on bail application today, saying that today’s hearing was being held on prosecution’s demand.
Meanwhile, Imran and Bushra came to the rostrum and put forward the same request with the former premier demanding justice. “My wife [Bushra] has nothing to do with this case but is still in jail,” he said.
“I spend 22 hours in [prison] cage,” the PTI founder informed the judge.
However, the court rejected the defence team’s request and granted the prosecution more time for completing their arguments.
The hearing was adjourned till September 28.
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