Imran Khan and Wife Bushra Bibi Seek Bail in Toshakhana Jewellery Case
Islamabad, Pakistan – Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have filed separate post-arrest bail pleas in a new case related to a jewellery set gifted by the Saudi crown prince. The couple submitted their applications through Barrister Salman Safdar under Section 9(b) of the NA Ordinance 1999 and Section 497 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
The applications request the accountability court to grant bail in the interest of justice and fair play. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have named the state and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman as parties to the case. This development comes while they are on judicial remand in Adiala jail over the Toshakhana case filed by NAB last week.
The couple was arrested on July 13, shortly after being acquitted in another case. The new reference, filed by NAB officers Mohsin Haroon and Waqar Hassan, will be reviewed by the registrar of the accountability courts. After addressing any objections, the registrar will forward the reference to the administrative judge, who will decide whether to conduct the hearing or transfer it to another court.
Administrative Judge Nasir Javed Rana is already hearing another case against Imran Khan. The new case involves a jewellery set, including a ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings, gifted to Bushra Bibi during a visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2021. The NAB claims that the couple illegally kept the jewellery set, which was not deposited in Toshakhana as required.
The jewellery set was valued at approximately PKR 70.56 million, with the necklace alone worth PKR 50.64 million. According to the rules, 50% of the jewellery’s value, around PKR 30.57 million, should have been deposited. The national exchequer faced a loss of approximately PKR 30.28 million due to the undervaluation of the jewellery.
An inquiry was initiated against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi following the NAB chairman’s instructions on August 1, 2022. The case alleges that the former Prime Minister and his wife violated the NAB Ordinance.
Doubts Revealed
Imran Khan -: Imran Khan is a famous politician from Pakistan who used to be the Prime Minister of the country. He is also known for being a former cricket player.
Bushra Bibi -: Bushra Bibi is the wife of Imran Khan. She is known for her spiritual beliefs and practices.
Toshakhana -: Toshakhana is a special place where gifts given to government officials are kept. It is like a treasure house for valuable items.
post-arrest bail -: Post-arrest bail means asking the court to let someone out of jail while they wait for their trial. It is a way to stay free until the court decides if they are guilty or not.
Saudi crown prince -: The Saudi crown prince is a very important person in Saudi Arabia. He is next in line to become the king of the country.
judicial remand -: Judicial remand means that a person is kept in jail by the order of a court while their case is being investigated.
Barrister Salman Safdar -: Barrister Salman Safdar is a lawyer who is helping Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi with their case. A barrister is a type of lawyer who can argue cases in higher courts.
PKR 70.56 million -: PKR 70.56 million is a lot of money in Pakistani Rupees. It is the value of the jewellery set that was not deposited in Toshakhana.
national exchequer -: The national exchequer is like the country’s big piggy bank. It holds all the money that the government uses to run the country.
NAB Ordinance -: The NAB Ordinance is a set of rules made by the National Accountability Bureau in Pakistan. These rules help catch and punish people who do corrupt activities.
