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Pakistan court denies bail to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana case

Khan, 71, has been in jail since his arrest on August 5 last year, following a conviction in a previous Toshakhana corruption case initiated by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

A Pakistani court has rejected the bail pleas of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the ongoing Toshakhana case, where they face allegations of abusing their power to acquire state gifts. The ruling was issued on Monday during a hearing at Adiala Jail, where both Khan and Bibi were present.

Referred to as Toshakhana 2.0, this case was filed this year by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and centers on claims that the couple obtained a Bulgari jewelry set valued at Rs 70 million without properly depositing it in the Toshakhana, the government repository for gifts received by officials.

Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand announced the decision amid upcoming proceedings, as the couple is scheduled to be indicted on October 2. This development follows a Supreme Court ruling that transferred the case from NAB to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), halting NAB’s pursuit of the matter.

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Khan, 71, has been in jail since his arrest on August 5 last year, following a conviction in a previous Toshakhana corruption case initiated by the Election Commission of Pakistan. The new charges emerged shortly after a district court acquitted the couple in an unrelated case concerning allegations of an un-Islamic marriage.

Also read | Why does the Pakistan government want to ban Imran Khan’s political party, PTI?

During the hearing, FIA prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi asserted that Khan acquired the Bulgari set for just Rs 2.9 million, significantly undervaluing its market price. He claimed that Khan listed the set at Rs 5.8 million during his tenure as prime minister and failed to deposit it in the Toshakhana. The prosecutor detailed that the set included a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, and a ring, all valued at Rs 71.5 million.

In defense, Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, argued that the current allegations were similar to a previous case and contended that the Supreme Court’s amendments to NAB laws warranted dismissal of the charges.

The court reserved its verdict and announced it after a brief recess. According to Toshakhana rules, officials are required to report gifts received to the Cabinet Division.

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Despite securing some legal relief in various cases, Khan remains incarcerated due to ongoing investigations related to the Toshakhana case and other incidents from May 9.

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