The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted bail to Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan, on Wednesday in a case concerning an expensive Bulgari jewellery set allegedly acquired from the Toshakhana at a significantly reduced price.
On October 4, the IHC informed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Bushra Bibi’s petition for post-arrest bail. The prosecution claims the jewellery set, valued at Rs71.5 million, was obtained by the former prime minister and his spouse for merely Rs2.9 million.
During the bail hearing, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb presided over the proceedings. Bushra’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, and FIA prosecutor Umair Majid Malik were present in court. Justice Aurangzeb had previously heard Safdar’s arguments, leading to Malik resuming the discussion.
In a notable exchange, Justice Aurangzeb suggested that the FIA prosecutor or the deputy attorney general visit Azerbaijan, where a museum showcases all state gifts received by presidents worldwide, including a photograph of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Addressing the case, Justice Aurangzeb questioned the rationale behind holding Imran Khan accountable if Bushra Bibi did not declare the gifts. The FIA prosecutor explained that Imran was a public office holder, which implicated him in the matter. The judge compared this case to that of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, where the husband was held responsible for his wife’s actions.
Malik contended that Bushra’s situation differed from Isa’s case, emphasizing that the state must declare and submit gifts to the state repository. According to him, the gift remains state property until legally purchased, and a defined procedure exists for purchasing gifts within four months post-valuation. He underscored that retaining state-owned gifts before completing the purchase was unlawful.
Justice Aurangzeb expressed concerns about the valuation process for Toshakhana gifts, questioning how one could assess the value of an item after leaving a shop without proper evaluation.
Ultimately, Bushra Bibi was granted bail against surety bonds of Rs1 million. A brief written judgment issued by Justice Aurangzeb indicated that a detailed verdict would follow later.
Adjournment of Indictment Proceedings
In a related development, the indictment proceedings against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the same Toshakhana case were postponed once again. Judge Shahrukh Arjumand of the FIA’s special court presided over the case, which was adjourned until October 26 (Saturday). The hearing took place at the Judicial Complex Islamabad for security reasons, as prisoner meetings are currently restricted at Adiala Jail.
