New Toshakhana reference: Imran, Bushra’s remand extended by 11 days

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court Thursday extended the physical remand of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 11 days in the new Toshakhana reference. The hearing took place at the Adiala jail. Both the accused were present in the court.

The NAB investigating officer, Mohsin Haroon, appeared along with Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar. The NAB representatives informed the court that the accused had cooperated with the investigation team only twice during the 10-day remand and requested grant of an additional 14-day physical remand to complete the investigation.

Defence lawyers Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry and Intizar Panjotha represented the accused.

After hearing the arguments, Judge Nasir Javed Rana extended the remand to 11 days and directed their production in the court on August 19. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have already completed 24 days on remand in connection with the new Toshakhana reference investigation.

On July 13, the couple was acquitted in the Iddat case. However, the relief was short-lived, as the accountability watchdog arrested them in a new Toshakhana reference.

In the new NAB reference, the couple is accused of purchasing a jewelry set from the Toshakhana and selling it. The set was worth Rs75 million.

In a related development, a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) clubbed the miscellaneous petitions seeking its orders to declare the arrest of former ruling couple in the new Toshakhana reference as illegal and sent the case file to Chief Justice (CJ) Aamir Farooq, reports Online. The court remarked that the petitions be clubbed by the chief justice and fixed for hearing by the available bench. The bench comprised Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir.

Justice Aurangzeb remarked that according to the NAB, Imran Khan said he will not join the investigation come what may. It is not acceptable that the accused does not cooperate with the investigators, he said.

Suleman Safdar said the matter of physical remand will come later but first the NAB conduct should be seen. Justice Aurangzeb remarked that his petition of a similar nature was already pending hearing. Safdar said the hearing of the petition was fixed for October.

Justice Miangul Hassan inquired if the next date of hearing was given in the open court to which Safdar replied no. “Our petition for prompt hearing was accepted on our request. This is the fourth case of the same incident against the PTI founder,” he said.

The court remarked that the case was being sent to the chief justice for fixing.

Meanwhile, talking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court with reference to the new Toshakhana case, Salman Safdar said the important question was that in how many cases the same accusation would be used as basis. “It never happens in criminal cases, as a case never bears babies,” he said. Safdar said earlier Graff case was filed followed by Bvlgari case.

He said the arrest of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi after their exoneration in the Iddat case testified to mala fide intentions of NAB. He further said in the new Toshakhana case, the judge did not give Imran and Bushra interim bail but issued a two-day notice.