PTI founder Imran Khan, wife Bushra Bibi indicted in new Toshakhana case

• Judge Arjumand frames charges during hearing at Adiala jail.
• NAB has accused couple of illegally retaining state gifts.
• Khan remains behind bars in other cases, Bushra is out on bail.

RAWALPINDI: A special court in Islamabad on Thursday indicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder-chairman Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the new Toshakhana case — also known as the jewellery set case.

Special Court Central-I Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand, who presided over the hearing at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, framed the charges on Khan and Bushra.

The case was initially filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). However, in light of NAB Amendments, the Federal Investigation Agency took over the case and filed its challan in September this year.

The couple have received bail in the case. But while the former first lady remains out of prison, her husband is still behind bars in other cases lodged against him.

The duo, who is accused of causing loss to the national exchequer via illegal sale and retention of state gifts, was arrested in the said case on July 13 — the same day they were acquitted in the iddat case.

In October, the former first lady, after spending months behind bars, was finally released after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) approved her post-arrest bail plea in the said case.

Meanwhile, in November, the IHC also granted bail to the incarcerated former prime minister.

However, both Khan and Bushra are not out of the hot waters as their legal woes are unlikely to end soon with the ex-PM being named in as many as 188 various cases.

Whereas, the PTI founder's wife too faces the risk of being jailed after the IHC, during the hearing of a case earlier in the day, said that he bail could be revoked by the trial court over her failure to attend the hearings — for which Judge Arujmand on December 5 had already issued her bailable arrest warrants.

NAB's reference

In its reference filed against Khan and Bushra, the accountability watchdog said that the deputy military secretary briefed the Toshakhana section officer to estimate and declare the price of the jewellery set. The jewellery set, it mentioned, was not deposited in Toshakhana.

The jewellery company sold the necklace for €300,000 and earrings for €80,000 on May 25, 2018. The information regarding the price of the bracelet and ring could not be obtained from the company.

On May 28, 2021, the price of the jewellery set was estimated at Rs70.56 million; the price of the necklace was Rs50.64 million and the price of the earrings included in the jewellery valued at Rs10.50 million back then.

According to the rules, the 50% price of the jewellery set is approximately Rs35.28 million.

As per the reference, the PTI founder and his wife violated the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance. It added that an inquiry was initiated against the former first couple on the instructions of the NAB chairman on August 1, 2022.

"PTI founder and Bushra Bibi have misused their powers. PTI founder retained 58 out of 108 gifts during his prime ministership," read the reference.