Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Charged in Toshakhana Case
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Islamabad, Dec 12 (NationPress) The legal challenges are escalating for Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, as he and his wife Bushra Bibi have been formally charged in the Toshakhana 2.0 case on Thursday.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan has accused the Saudi royal family of gifting a Bulgari jewelry collection, which includes a ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings, to Imran Khan's wife during her trip to the kingdom in May 2021. Allegedly, this valuable set was unlawfully kept by the former couple instead of being deposited into the government’s Toshakhana, where all gifts to government officials are supposed to be stored.
According to the Deputy Military Secretary at that time, it was stated in the special investigation court that the jewelry was retained by Bushra Bibi.
During the hearing on Thursday, a special court presented the charges to both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, who were in attendance, thereby commencing the legal proceedings concerning this case.
Currently, Khan is facing numerous charges and is imprisoned in Adiala jail located in Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, his wife Bushra Bibi has been granted bail in the notorious Iddat case and in various other matters.
The NAB asserts that both Khan and Bushra Bibi intentionally undervalued the true worth of the jewelry set.
According to NAB, Bulgari sold the necklace to a Saudi Arabian franchise on May 25, 2018, for 300,000 Euros and the earrings for 80,000 Euros. The total valuation of the jewelry set in Pakistani currency was assessed at Rs 75,661,600. However, the investigating agency states that the necklace and earrings were appraised by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, leading to a loss of at least Rs 35,765,800 to the national treasury.
The indictment of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi regarding the Toshakhana 2.0 case arises at a moment when the PTI leader is contending with multiple legal battles, including newly filed cases accusing him of inciting and orchestrating recent violent protests in Islamabad.
Moving forward, Khan faces a challenging path as any admission from former ISI chief Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Faiz Hamed, who is alleged to have supported the former Prime Minister and is viewed as the mastermind behind targeted attacks by PTI supporters on military installations nationwide on May 9 of last year, could result in additional hearings, potentially in military courts.
