- Court also rejects Imran’s post-arrest bails in both Toshakhana, £190m references
- I am being punished for trying to bring the mighty under the law,’ Imran tells reporters
RAWALPINDI: An Accountability Court (AC) on Tuesday indicted on Tuesday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana reference.
Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir presided over the proceedings at Adiala jail and announced the decision. NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi and Amjad Pervez, Special Prosecutors – Irfan Bhola, Sohail Arif and others appeared in the court.
Imran, his spouse, PTI lawyers – Shoaib Shaheen and Barrister Umar Niazi were also present in the court.
Imran Khan and his wife have been named in the list of accused for possessing gifts received from international dignitaries, which they were obligated to deposit in the Toshakhana.
The anti-graft watchdog alleged in the reference that during his term as prime minister, Imran and his wife had received a total of 108 gifts from different heads of state and foreign dignitaries.
“Out of these 108 gifts, the accused persons retained 58 gift boxes/sets against an undervalued amount of Rs142.1 million as assessed by appraisers,” the reference said.
The Toshakhana issue became a major sticking point in national politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified the PTI chief for making “false statements and incorrect declaration.”
The ECP judgement added that the former premier was found to be indulged in corrupt practices under sections 167 and 173 of the constitution. “A criminal proceeding will be initiated against him over filing a false statement.” “His disqualification under Article 63, 1(P) has been for his current parliament membership”, the ECP said in its 36-page detailed judgment of the reference.
As the proceedings commenced, accountability judge Muhammad Bashir indicted the PTI founder and his wife and read out loud the charges framed against them.
Imran denied the charges and said he was waiting for the day when he would meet the approvers, who had testified against him, claiming that people were kidnapped after which they became witnesses.
The court subsequently adjourned the hearing till Jan 11 and directed the NAB to produce the witnesses in the case at the next proceedings.
Separately, the judge also reserved the verdict in the 190m pound reference.
The case alleged that Imran and Bushra Bibi obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd for legalising Rs50bn that was identified and returned to the country by the UK during the previous PTI government.
The reference filed by NAB said Imran played a “pivotal role in the illicit transfer of funds meant for the state of Pakistan into an account designated for the payment of land by Bahria Town, Karachi”. It also claimed that despite being given multiple opportunities to justify and provide information, the accused deliberately, with mala fide intention, refused to give information on one pretext or another.
As the proceedings commenced, copies of the case record were given to Bushra Bibi. Imran was handed over the copies during yesterday’s hearing. The judge said charges would be framed against the suspects on Jan 17 and adjourned the case.
The court also rejected Imran’s post-arrest bails in both the Toshakhana and £190m references.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, the PTI leader said it was alleged in the Toshakhana reference that he used his office boy as the prime minister for corruption of millions and billions of rupees.
“Being the premier, I used no one else but the office boy […] how is that possible?” Imran asked, adding that two persons, including an office boy, were made approvers against him.
“Is this society running on [the concept] of Amr Bil Maroof (enjoin the good)?” he further questioned. “I am being punished for trying to bring the mighty under the law,” Imran added.
Asad Umar, Imran’s sisters bail extended
Earlier in the day, a Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) court extended the pre-arrest bails of former PTI leader Asad Umar and Imran’s sisters — Uzma Khan and Aleema Khan — in multiple cases pertaining to the May 9 riots until February 10.
Imran’s sisters appeared before the court, while an application was filed on behalf of Umar seeking a one-time exemption from personal appearance.
The court subsequently extended their bail till February 10.
Speaking to the media outside the court, Aleema said that the end of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s lifetime disqualification was part of the “London plan”. She was referring the Supreme Court verdict on nullifying lifetime disqualification for lawmakers under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.
She alleged that her brother had informed the country of this plan a year and a half ago, saying an “agreement” was made in London, where Nawaz spent nearly four years in self-exile, and the current scenario was playing out according to a script.
She regretted that women had protested peacefully in May yet they were still imprisoned. Talking about Imran, Aleema said she fully believed the judges were committed to ensuring justice. She said a wave of happiness would spread throughout Pakistan if Imran was given justice.
