Toshakhana II: IHC rejects request to transfer case to another bench

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has rejected the request to immediately transfer the Toshakhana II case to another bench. PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf founder, Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi had filed a request for the transfer of their acquittal plea in Toshakhana Case II to another bench on Tuesday.

Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas directed the lawyers of the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi to provide further assistance, while Khan and Bushra Bibi had raised objections to the bench of Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas.

The former prime minister and the former first lady are accused of not depositing the gift of Bulgarian jewelry set from the Saudi Crown Prince in Toshakhana. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Imran and Bushra as well.

According to the prosecutor, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have violated the procedure by not depositing the gift. “A criminal breach of trust was committed by not depositing the gift in the Toshakhana,” the prosecutor’s stance says.

The IHC noted down these statements of the prosecutor, adding that there is also an allegation of reducing the recorded price of the gift against both Imran and Bushra. It is alleged that the national treasury was damaged by getting the jewelry set at a lower price.

In their newly-filed acquittal plea, the couple argued that the special court’s November 14 ruling, which dismissed their plea for acquittal, was “unlawful”. They urged the high court to overturn the decision and acquit them in the case. 

The petition, filed in the IHC, has named the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other relevant parties as respondents.

In another case of Al-Qadir Trust, also known as the 190 million pound, Imran Khan had been sentenced to 14 years and fine of PKR1 million, while Bushra Bibi had been sentenced to seven years in Jail alongside a fine of OKR 500,000. The verdict for the case was finally announced today on January 17, 2025.