Wife of former Pakistani PM Imrans released after almost 9 months after being granted bail in new Toshakhana case

October 25, 2024

ISLAMABAD – Bushra Bibi, the wife of incarcerated ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, was released from Adiala jail on Thursday, a day after she was granted bail in a recent Toshakhana case, ending nearly nine months of his detention.

The former first lady was taken into custody on January 31 after an accountability court in Islamabad sentenced her and Imran to 14 years in prison in connection with the Toshakhana case.

The conviction is the second in a series of three consecutive convictions against Imran, just days before the February 8 general elections.

Bushra was lodged in Adiala jail, where the PTI founder is also lodged since his arrest on August 5 last year in another Toshakhana case.

Imran and Bushra were apprehended in the case on July 13, after their acquittal in the Iddat case on the same day. The next day, the already imprisoned politician was arrested in connection with a dozen cases from May 9.

In the most recent case, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) accused the couple of keeping an expensive Bvlgari jewelry set gifted by a foreign leader including a necklace, earrings, bracelets and cheap rings, claiming that this caused a significant loss to the chessboard.

A day ago, the IHC had approved Bushra's bail in the same case, following which a special court issued release orders today.

PTI confirmed that Bushra had reached Bani Gala, in a post on X at 3:12 p.m.

Earlier today, Special Judge (Central) Shahrukh Arjumand issued orders for the release of Bushras, a copy of which is available on Dawn.com, after his lawyers Malik Tariq Mehmood Noon and Sohail Satti submitted bail bonds of worth 1 million rupees.

The bail of the accused in the above-mentioned case has been approved by the High Court, the release order said, adding that if the accused are not wanted in any other case, then they should be released after confirmation.

A statement from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Advocate Saif later in the day said she had reached Peshawar safely, where she would stay for some time.

PTI welcomes release of Bushras

The PTI welcomed the release of its founder's wife: Welcome back to Bushra Bibi!

You have faced extremely difficult times, disgusting campaigns and smear attempts against you during your illegal stay in prison. The Pakistani nation salutes your courage! declared the X party.

Speaking outside Adiala jail, PTI Chairman Gohar Khan highlighted that the former first lady had endured the jail for nine months under extreme conditions with great courage.

He said despite all the difficulties, Bushra remained true to Imran's vision, adding that he hoped for Imran's release soon.

On rumors of a deal being struck between Imran and the powers that be, Gohar said if it was possible to get Bushra out of jail through a deal, she would not have remained imprisoned till now.

Khan Sahib would not have been in prison for 16 months [either]Gohar said.

Responding to a question on how Bushra was finally released today instead of being arrested again, like in previous cases, Gohar quipped: In what other case could they have arrested her.

Lawyer Salman Safdar said it was a big day for the Bushra family, stressing that his legal team was working tirelessly. He expressed hope that the release of Imran and his sisters would also be near.

IHC orders production of Imrans in court

Separately, the IHC on Thursday ordered that Imran be produced before the court by 3 p.m. and be allowed to meet his lawyers virtually there.

However, it later emerged that three of the former prime minister's lawyers had been invited to go to Adiala prison to meet him there.

Salman Akram Raja, Shoaib Shaheen and I were invited to come [Adiala] prison for a meeting, lawyer Faisal Chaudhry told Dawn.com.

A Dawn.com correspondent at the scene noted that Shaheen and Raja arrived at Adiala jail around 3 p.m.

PTI lawyer Naeem Panjutha said Imran criticized the 26th constitutional amendment and called it an attack on the judiciary.

Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan today took up lawyer Faisal Chaudhry's contempt petition against the Adiala jail authorities for refusing to meet Imran despite earlier court orders.

Earlier this month, the Punjab government, citing security concerns, banned meetings with prisoners at Adiala Prison until October 18, which was later extended indefinitely.

Adiala Prison Superintendent Ghafoor Anjum appeared before the court today on the court's orders, along with the Additional Attorney General and the State Attorney.

Ordering Anjum to produce Imran in court before 3 p.m. and make him hold a virtual meeting with his lawyers, Justice Khan also asked him to explain the reasons if the order was not implemented.

IHC orders formation of medical board for Imran

The IHC also ordered the formation of a medical board for Imran, 72, saying the security measures put in place cannot constitute a valid barrier to accessing qualified doctors to examine prisoners.

A written order issued by Justice Aurangzeb, a copy of which is available on Dawn.com, states that the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) will constitute a medical council which will include a doctor from the private sector, viz. : Dr. Faisal Sultan, to medically examine the petitioner and thereafter submit a report to the Registrar of this court.

In the petition, Imran sought to be medically examined by Dr Sultan, Dr Asim Yusaf and Dr Samina Niazi every fortnight and allowed to follow the medical treatment recommended by these doctors.

IHC hearing

At the start of the hearing, Justice Khan, referring to the ban on prisoner meetings, asked: Are you saying that the government can stop the process of dispensing justice with a single notification?

The state prosecutor responded that as the court hearings did not take place, Imran's meetings were also not arranged.

Justice Khan then noted that the petitioner had argued that a court order had been violated through a notice.

I am not saying whether the notification is correct or not; they will have to file a separate request for this [matter]he clarified. However, it is a violation of the court orders to refuse a meeting despite court orders.

To this, the state prosecutor informed the court about the ban on prisoners' meetings by the Punjab government on the basis of law and order situation.

Have meetings with lawyers also been banned? » asked the judge. He said those who had issued the notice had also committed contempt of court, adding that if the Punjab government banned meetings of lawyers, then it was contempt of court.

Justice Ishaq said the Interior Ministry should submit a report detailing the security reasons.

Here, the petitioners' counsel informed the court that no lawyer has been allowed to assemble at Adiala jail since October 3.

The court wondered what the results would be if this was not genuine. I will ask on camera those who wrote the letters.

I will get my hands on the Quran and ask them if they will give an affidavit and that was really the position, the court said.

If we all go to jail, are we all a security threat? » asked lawyer Shoaib Shaheen.

Justice Khan ordered the jail authorities to produce Imran in court before 3 p.m. and arrange for him to meet his lawyers via video link at the court.

Besides summoning the Joint Secretary of the Interior Ministry with relevant files, the judge issued notices seeking legal assistance from the Attorney General of Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan.

I am aware that you will not implement my orders of the court, Justice Khan remarked, adding that the court would be respected if Imran was produced in the court.

Addressing prison authorities, the judge ordered: You should do [necessary] security measures and present the PTI founder in court.

If you cannot do so, you must inform the court tomorrow of the reasons, Justice Khan stressed.

You have to convince the court about the security threat due to which you might not present it, he told the prison director.

Second story of the Toshakhana case

In September, Central Special Judge Shahrukh Arjumand had fixed the charge sheet of the couples in the case for October 2. However, the indictment was postponed until October 5 at the request of defense attorneys for more time. The day before, Judge Arjumand had rejected their requests for bail after their arrest.

On October 24, a day after the IHC approved her bail application in the case, Bushra was released from Adiala prison.

In its reference filed with the court, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) accused Imran and his wife of illegally retaining the jewelry set gifted to Bushra by the Saudi royal family during their visit to the kingdom in May 2021.

In its reference, the anti-corruption watchdog further claimed that during his tenure as prime minister, Imran and his wife received a total of 108 gifts from different heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

Among these gifts, they allegedly retained 58 gifts for an undervalued amount of more than Rs142 million. Out of these 108 gifts, the accused retained 58 gift boxes/sets for an undervalued amount of Rs142.1 million as per the assessment of the assessors, the reference said.

After the Supreme Court upheld the amendments to the NAB laws in September, the case was transferred to a special FIA court from an accountability court.

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