In a significant development in Pakistan’s ongoing political drama, the Accountability Court has ordered a 15-day judicial remand for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in connection with a new Toshakhana reference.
This latest twist in the high-profile case has further entangled the former prime minister and his spouse in legal challenges, prolonging their stay behind bars.
The proceedings presided over by Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana, took place at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where the couple appeared after completing their previous 10-day physical remand on August 18.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed the new reference in July, alleging misuse of power to acquire valuable gifts from the Toshakhana, a state treasury for official gifts.
The court has now set September 2 as the next date for their appearance, keeping the spotlight firmly on the ongoing legal saga.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were represented by their legal team, including prominent lawyers Zaheer Abbas Chaudhary and Salman Safdar, who submitted a written response to the NAB’s questionnaire during the hearing.
The NAB’s Deputy Director, Mohsen Haroon, and Special Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, presented the prosecution’s arguments, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations against the couple.
This new Toshakhana reference surfaced after the NAB arrested Khan and Bushra Bibi shortly after they were acquitted in a separate case, commonly known as the “un-Islamic nikah case” or “iddat case.”
The acquittal, which many believed would pave the way for their release, was quickly overshadowed by their re-arrest on charges related to the alleged misuse of Toshakhana gifts.
The NAB’s swift action caught many by surprise, and the couple’s legal team has since been battling to secure their release.
The NAB, which has been scrutinizing Imran Khan’s activities since his time in office, has focused on his handling of Toshakhana gifts, which are meant to be declared and either retained by paying a percentage of their value or handed over to the state.
Allegations against Khan suggest that he retained several valuable gifts by paying only a fraction of their worth, a charge he and his supporters vehemently deny.
Bushra Bibi, the former first lady, has found herself at the center of this legal storm alongside her husband.
After her initial release from Adiala Jail, she was rearrested by a NAB team at the prison’s Gate No. 3, further complicating her legal situation.
Sources indicate that she will remain incarcerated at the Rawalpindi facility as the case progresses.
This isn’t the first time the Toshakhana scandal has brought Imran Khan under legal scrutiny.
In January, a NAB official confirmed that the top anti-corruption body was preparing another reference related to the Toshakhana gifts retained by Khan, indicating the persistence of these allegations.
Earlier, the court had refused to extend Khan’s physical remand when NAB first filed the Toshakhana reference in December 2023.
However, the latest developments have reignited the case, drawing widespread attention and fueling political tensions.
Following their recent arrest, both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi sought relief from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), arguing that their remand into NAB custody was illegal and had infringed upon their fundamental rights.
The couple’s legal team highlighted the impact of their detention on their liberty and pre-arrest rights, emphasizing the urgency of their release.
Despite these efforts, the IHC directed NAB to obtain the couple’s response to its questionnaire at Adiala Jail, further delaying any potential relief.
The court adjourned the hearing until August 21, leaving the couple’s fate uncertain.
Justice Miangul Hassan, presiding over the case, stressed the need for NAB to justify the arrest of the PTI founder, underlining the gravity of the situation.
As the legal battle continues, the focus remains on how these developments will impact Imran Khan’s political future and the broader political landscape in Pakistan.
With the next court appearance scheduled for September 2, all eyes are on the ongoing proceedings and their potential implications.
The Toshakhana case, once a matter of state protocol, has now evolved into a significant legal and political challenge for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, with far-reaching consequences.
