Islamabad, November 20, 2024: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, former first lady Bushra Bibi, in a new Toshakhana reference.
The court directed the couple to submit Rs. 1 million as security bonds each and instructed them to appear before the trial court for further proceedings.
During the hearing, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb remarked that the PTI government, during its tenure, had failed to respond to queries seeking details of Toshakhana gifts. Addressing the couple’s bail pleas, the judge questioned the respondents’ counsel about the valuation methods for the jewellery and other gifts received by the former premier and his wife. Barrister Salman Safdar, representing the couple, argued that determining the valuation was the prosecution’s responsibility.
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor highlighted that media reports were portraying the bail as a final decision on the case. Responding, Justice Aurangzeb quipped, “If the media doesn’t create hysteria, how will it sell news?”
The court also probed into the names listed in the prosecution’s challan. The counsel revealed that Bushra Bibi was named in the challan, with Sohaib Abbasi serving as an approver and Inamullah Shah listed as a witness.
Justice Aurangzeb expressed skepticism when the prosecutor claimed that gifts received by Bushra Bibi also benefited Imran Khan. “How can possessions of the wife be linked to the husband?” the judge remarked.
The court’s decision grants temporary relief to the couple, but further legal proceedings in the Toshakhana case are expected to follow in the trial court.
