Toshakhana II case against Imran Khan: key announcement expected today

ISLAMABAD: The jail trial of the Toshakhana-II case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was cancelled once again, marking yet another delay in the high-profile proceedings. The hearing was scheduled to be held at Adiala Jail tomorrow.

The court officials said that a new date for the hearing will be announced later today at the Judicial Complex. The prosecution had been set to respond to the defence’s arguments in what was expected to be a critical stage of the case.

This latest postponement follows a similar cancellation on October 29.

BACKGROUND: FINAL ARGUMENTS UNDERWAY SINCE MID-OCTOBER

The trial had appeared to be entering its final phase following significant developments in the October 15 hearing. On that day, the court began wrapping up evidence and moving toward closing arguments in the Toshakhana-II case against Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.

Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand had presided over a series of hearings, conducted alternately at the Islamabad Judicial Complex and Adiala Jail due to security concerns, during which the prosecution completed its final arguments. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had alleged that the couple retained state gifts, including a Bulgari jewellery set gifted by the Saudi royal family, at undervalued prices, causing losses to the national exchequer.

The prosecution’s case relied heavily on testimony from key witnesses, including private appraiser Sohaib Abbasi and Imran Khan’s former personal secretary, Inamullah Shah. Abbasi claimed he was pressured to undervalue the jewellery set at Rs5 million, while Shah admitted he had requested the valuation be lowered and acknowledged receiving dual salaries during his tenure.

By mid-October, the testimony phase had concluded, and the court had formally moved into final arguments, with FIA Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi outlining alleged procedural violations in the retention of Toshakhana gifts.

The Toshakhana-II case, originally investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) before being transferred to the FIA, is set to decide both the criminal charges and the bail pleas of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

Imran Khan, incarcerated since August 2023, is already serving a sentence in the £190 million corruption case and faces multiple other trials, including those related to the events of May 9, 2023.