A special court in Islamabad has dismissed the acquittal pleas of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Toshakhana 2.0 case. The ruling was made on Thursday, with Special Judge Central, Shahrukh Arjumand, announcing the verdict.
The court has deferred the indictment, setting the next date for the formal framing of charges on November 18. Imran Khan was present at the proceedings, while Bushra Bibi was notably absent from the courtroom. The hearing had been rescheduled from November 12 to November 14 due to the judge’s unavailability.
The Toshakhana 2.0 case revolves around allegations that Khan, as the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Bushra Bibi unlawfully retained state gifts, including valuable jewelry, without fulfilling the legal requirements for deposit.
The case has attracted significant attention due to the involvement of high-profile figures and the alleged misuse of official gifts received during foreign visits. One of the key pieces of evidence is a Bulgari jewelry set gifted to Bushra Bibi during a visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2021. The set included a ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings, which were allegedly not declared or deposited in Toshakhana as per official regulations.
Investigations revealed that the jewelry set, valued at approximately Rs 75.66 million, was not submitted to Toshakhana, and by undervaluing it, a loss of Rs 32.85 million was incurred to the national treasury. The charges against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi include violations of the NAB Ordinance 1999.
In related developments, last month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices in response to a post-arrest bail plea filed by Bushra Bibi. The court heard arguments concerning her custody since July 13, with her previous bail request having been rejected by the trial court. The IHC proceedings are set to continue as the legal process moves forward.
The next phase of the Toshakhana 2.0 case will determine the final charges against the former Prime Minister and his wife, with the court’s decision on the matter expected next week.
