Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Indicted in Toshakhana 2.0 Case
Former Pakistan PM and his wife face charges of corruption over gift sales.
A special court in Islamabad has indicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the second Toshakhana case, also known as Toshakhana 2.0. The indictment was framed on Thursday by Special Court Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, who presided over the hearing at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The case, which was initially filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), was transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) following recent amendments to NAB laws. The FIA took over the investigation and filed its challan (charge sheet) in September.
The Toshakhana case involves allegations of corruption regarding the sale of gifts received by Khan and Bibi from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as prime minister. They are accused of unlawfully selling these gifts, which are meant to be retained by the state.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s Arrests and Bail
The couple was arrested on July 13, 2023, the same day they were acquitted in a separate case. However, Bushra Bibi was granted post-arrest bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in October after spending several months in jail. In a separate legal proceeding, the IHC dismissed an FIA plea to revoke her bail, despite claims by the FIA that she had repeatedly failed to appear in court, violating the court’s trust.
Bibi’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, defended her presence in court, stating that her absences were not without valid reasons. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb ruled that while failure to attend court could result in bail being revoked, Bibi’s bail would not be canceled at this stage.
Legal Battles for Imran Khan
This is just one of several legal challenges faced by Imran Khan since his government was ousted by a no-confidence vote in April 2022. Khan, who has been implicated in multiple cases, continues to face legal scrutiny, with his political future uncertain amid the ongoing trials.
