Imran Khan cannot be tried for failing to deposit gift in Toshakhana: Pak IHC
Imran Khan Cleared of Toshakhana Charges by Islamabad High Court
The Islamabad High Court has ruled that former Prime Minister Imran Khan cannot be prosecuted under the amended Toshakhana rules for not depositing a Bulgari jewellery set gifted by the Saudi crown prince. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb stated that the 2023 amendments introducing penalties cannot be applied retroactively. Under the 2018 rules, only a receipt submission was mandatory, which Khan complied with.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had accused Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, of undervaluing the jewellery, causing a loss of Rs32.8 million. However, the court found no evidence of wrongdoing by Khan. Justice Aurangzeb noted delays in the trial, with Khan detained for over four months without indictment. The investigation, initially by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), was transferred to the FIA, but progress has been slow.
In the Toshakhana case, the FIA prosecutor completed cross-examination of witnesses, with more testimonies scheduled. Separately, the verdict in a GBP 190 million corruption case involving Khan has been delayed due to the absence of Judge Nasir Javed Rana. NAB alleged Khan's cabinet approved a deed to return GBP 190 million to Malik Riaz, with claims of misuse of authority and land transfers.
Doubts Revealed
Imran Khan
Imran Khan is a famous Pakistani politician and former cricketer who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Toshakhana
Toshakhana is a government department in Pakistan where gifts received by officials are stored. Officials are supposed to declare and deposit gifts they receive while in office.
Islamabad High Court
The Islamabad High Court is a high court in Pakistan that deals with legal cases and issues in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Bulgari jewellery set
Bulgari is a luxury brand known for its jewellery. A jewellery set from Bulgari would be a collection of expensive jewellery items.
FIA
FIA stands for Federal Investigation Agency, which is a law enforcement agency in Pakistan responsible for investigating crimes.
NAB
NAB stands for National Accountability Bureau, which is an organization in Pakistan that investigates corruption and tries to hold people accountable for misuse of power.
GBP 190 million
GBP stands for Great British Pounds, which is the currency of the United Kingdom. 190 million GBP is a large amount of money, equivalent to several crores in Indian Rupees.
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