Imran, Bushra bail rejected in new Toshakhana case

RAWALPINDI: Special Judge Central (SJC) Shahrukh Arjumand rejected the bail applications of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in new Toshakhana case here on Monday.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi and his team appeared in court, while Barrister Salman Safdar represented the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi. After hearing detailed arguments from both the prosecution and defence, the court reserved its decision. Following deliberations, the court denied bail to both the suspects.

The prosecution has alleged that Imran Khan received valuable jewellery set from Saudi Arabia worth Rs70 million during his stint as the prime minister and retained it for a much lower price of Rs2.9 million. According to the prosecution, the set comprising a necklace, earrings, bracelets, and rings was not deposited in the Toshakhana repository, but was instead retained by Khan. The prosecution also argued that the actual price of the gift was verified through the Foreign Office.

Conducting the hearing inside the Adiala jail, where the former PM and first lady also appeared, Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand announced the verdict on the bail pleas filed by the couple.

The development comes as the duo is set to be indicted in the said case on October 2 after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was barred from pursuing the matter and the case was transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict restoring amendments to the anti-corruption laws.

During the hearing, the FIA prosecutor said that the suspects received the Bulgari (Bvlgari) jewellery set from Saudi Arabia and apprised the court that the agency had obtained records of a necklace and earrings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“According to the records, both items are valued at Rs71.5 million,” said the prosecutor adding that the couple got it valued at Rs5.8 million from a private firm. Requesting the court to deny the couple’s bail plea, he further said that the suspects also failed to submit the said jewellery set in the Toshakhana repository, a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division that stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officials by heads of other governments and states and foreign dignitaries as a goodwill gesture.

Representing the PTI founder and former first lady, Barrister Salman Safdar contended that the new Toshakhana case was similar to the previous one with similar allegations and approvers.

Referring to the September 6 SC verdict restoring the NAB amendments, the lawyer said that the Toshakhana case against his clients should come to an end following the top court’s ruling. The court then reserved its verdict, and later announced it after a break in the hearing.