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Toshakhana-II: Imran, Bushra move IHC for acquittal


imran, bushra acquital

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on Monday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC), challenging the special court’s decision to reject their acquittal pleas in the Toshakhana-II case. 

The special couple indicted the couple in the case on Dec 12. However, the two got bail from IHC, which declared in the detailed verdict issued on Jan 6 on Imran Khan’s bail plea that the Toshakhana-II case needs “further inquiry”.

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“No action can be taken on failure to deposit the Bulgarian set gift in Toshakhana. According to the rules, action could have been taken on failure to deposit the gift receipt,” the IHC said, adding that since the current case is not dealing with the receipt, it requires further inquiry.

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.

Eelier in the day, an accountability court in Rawalpindi deferred the verdict against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi for the third time in the £190 million case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. 

He, while expressing frustration over the absence of the couple, announced to postponed the verdict in the case till January 17.

Moreover, the Islamabad Session Court rejected the three interim bail pleas filed by Bushra Bibi in the November 26 protest case.

Counsel for Bushra Bibi, Khalid Yousaf, filed a plea for exemption during the proceedings.

Prosecutor Iqbal Kakhar argued that the bail bonds had not been submitted, and the judge remarked, “You have yet to submit the bail bonds. You are not following the orders of the court”.

Defence lawyer Khalid Yousaf said that his client has to attend the £190 million case hearing at Adiala Jail.

The court rejected the interim bail pleas of Bushra Bibi on the basis of noncompliance with the orders of the court. 

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