Special Court Rejects Bail for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana Jewellery Case
A special court in Rawalpindi has denied the bail applications of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a case concerning the alleged retention of an expensive jewellery set. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand presided over the hearing inside Adiala Jail on Monday.
The court heard arguments from both sides, with FIA Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi leading the prosecution and Barrister Salman Safdar representing the defense. After considering the arguments, the court reserved its decision. Following deliberation, bail for both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi was rejected.
The prosecution claims that during his tenure as prime minister, Imran Khan received a valuable jewellery set from Saudi Arabia, worth Rs70 million, which included a necklace, earrings, bracelets, and rings. Instead of depositing the set in the Toshakhana (state repository for gifts), Khan allegedly retained it for a significantly lower price of Rs2.9 million. The prosecution further asserted that the gift’s actual value was verified by the Foreign Office, and that Khan, with the assistance of his office secretary Inam Shah and Toshakhana officials, undervalued the set at Rs5.8 million to retain it without proper registration.
In response, defense lawyer Salman Safdar argued that this case is similar to a previous reference related to the Toshakhana gifts, with overlapping allegations, witnesses, and evidence. He contended that the case should be dismissed, especially following the Supreme Court’s decision to restore amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws. However, the court ruled against the defense and denied the bail applications.
Earlier, on September 26, the court set October 2 as the date for their indictment, with the hearing also taking place at Adiala Jail. On Thursday, defense lawyer Salman Safdar concluded his arguments in favor of the bail applications for both the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi.
The prosecution, however, was unable to complete its arguments and requested more time, which the defense opposed, urging the court to issue a timely ruling. Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi addressed the court, expressing their frustration over the delay and appealing for swift justice. Despite the defense’s plea for an immediate decision, the court adjourned the hearing until September 28, granting the prosecution more time to present its case.
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