Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday accepted bail of former PTI founder Imran Khan in a recent Toshakhana case.
Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were arrested in the case on July 13, after their acquittal in the Iddat case the same day.
While Bushra Bibi had gotten bail in the case from the IHC last month, permitting her to be freed from jail, Imran Khan has remained incarcerated since his arrest on August 5 last year in a separate Toshakhana case.
In the most recent case, the FIA accused the couple of obtaining an expensive Bulgari jewellery set gifted by a foreign leader — including a necklace, earrings, bracelets, and rings — at a low price, saying it caused significant loss to the exchequer.
In September, Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand had set the couple’s indictment in the case for October 2. However, it was deferred called off to October 5 on the defence counsel’s request for more time. A day earlier to that, Judge Arjumand had rejected their post-arrest bail petitions.
On Oct 24, a day after the IHC approved her bail plea in the case, Bushra was released from Adiala Jail.
In its reference filed with the court, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) accused Imran and his wife of illegally obtaining the jewellery set gifted to Bushra by the Saudi royal family during their visit to the kingdom in May 2021.
The NAB further alleged during his term as prime minister, Imran and his wife had received a total of 108 gifts from different heads of state and foreign dignitaries.
“Of those gifts, they reportedly retained 58 gifts against an undervalued amount of over Rs142m. “Out of these 108 gifts, the accused persons got 58 gift boxes/sets against an undervalued amount of Rs142.1 million as assessed by appraisers,” the NAB reference said.
After the SC upheld amendments to NAB laws in September, the case was transferred to an FIA special court from an accountability court.
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