ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday opposed the bail plea of Bushra Bibi, wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, during the hearing of the Toshakhana-II case at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The case, presided over by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, was adjourned to Wednesday (tomorrow) after the FIA reiterated opposition to the bail plea.
Bushra Bibi’s legal counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, argued that the charges against his client were not substantial and that a private buyer had undervalued the gifts in question. He claimed that the custom officers determined the value of the goods later, finding no wrongdoing on her part.
“The custom officers later found no suspect,” Safdar argued, contending that the whole matter was blown out of proportion.
However, Justice Aurangzeb questioned whether it was the then Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to take the gift after paying only 50 percent of the value, as alleged.
The FIA prosecutor, Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi, responded that no such precedent existed where a person could take gifts from the Toshakhana by paying half of the estimated value. He affirmed that the FIA would oppose the bail plea due to the seriousness of the charges.
The case pertains to Bushra Bibi allegedly retaining valuable Bulgari jewelry during a visit to Saudi Arabia in 2021. According to the investigation, the jewelry set, including a necklace, earrings, bracelet, and ring, was not properly declared or deposited in the Toshakhana, leading to significant financial losses to the national exchequer.
The NAB investigation revealed that the total value of the jewelry set was approximately Rs75 million, and the undervaluation of the set caused a loss of Rs32.85 million to the treasury.
The legal troubles of Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan in connection with Toshakhana date back to earlier in 2023 when both were accused of retaining gifts given to them during foreign visits.
The Toshakhana rules mandate that officials must declare all gifts received during their official foreign trips. Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi allegedly kept high-value gifts while paying only a portion of their worth, which is now the subject of legal proceedings.
The ongoing legal saga escalated in July when both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were arrested after the Islamabad district and sessions court acquitted them in a separate case, involving their controversial Nikkah during the Iddat period.
Despite their acquittal in the Nikkah case, the couple was immediately rearrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Toshakhana reference.
To recall, in yet another setback for the couple, the court had also summoned them for indictment in a new Toshakhana reference on October 2, further complicating their legal troubles.
This new reference emerged after the Supreme Court’s verdict restored amendments to anti-corruption laws, transferring the case from NAB to FIA. The indictment hearing comes after months of legal maneuvering by the prosecution and defense teams, with the FIA now taking charge of the investigation.
The FIA’s opposition to Bushra Bibi’s bail is seen as a key moment in the case, with the agency arguing that her role in the retention of high-value gifts, particularly the Bulgari jewelry set, constitutes a serious violation of the Toshakhana rules and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance 1999.
The agency also contended that the undervaluation of the jewelry, allegedly facilitated by custom officers and private buyers, was part of a broader scheme to defraud the state.
As the court proceedings continued, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb questioned the FIA’s stance on the matter, asking whether Bushra Bibi’s bail plea could be considered in light of the FIA’s investigation. However, the FIA prosecutor reaffirmed that they would oppose any bail given the severity of the charges.
The court’s decision to adjourn the case to October 23 comes after several months of legal battles between Bushra Bibi’s defense team and the prosecution.
The IHC had earlier sought responses from the FIA in a hearing held on October 4, after Bushra Bibi’s legal team moved the high court following the rejection of her bail plea by the trial court. At the time, the court directed the FIA to submit its reply within a week, but the proceedings were delayed due to procedural issues.
Earlier in September, a special court in Rawalpindi rejected the post-arrest bail pleas of both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana-II case. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand, who was presiding over the case inside Adiala Jail, denied their bail requests, leaving both behind bars.
The couple’s bail pleas have faced multiple rejections over the course of the past months.
The Toshakhana controversy has dominated headlines since the scandal first broke out, with accusations that the former prime minister and his wife had kept valuable gifts, including luxury watches, jewelry, and other high-priced items, without declaring them or paying the required amount.
The issue has since evolved into multiple legal cases, with both Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan facing charges of corruption, financial mismanagement, and violations of NAB laws.
The case has sparked political debate, with PTI supporters alleging that the legal proceedings are politically motivated, while the government and opposition parties have called for accountability.
The ongoing court cases are part of a broader crackdown on alleged corruption during the PTI government, with Imran Khan and other senior PTI leaders facing numerous charges.
Imran Khan, who has remained in jail for nearly a year, faces several other cases, including those related to the Cipher Case and alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as prime minister.
His legal battles, coupled with those of his wife Bushra Bibi, have become central to the political narrative in the country, as PTI leaders continue to defend their former party chief, calling the cases politically driven.
As the court proceedings continue, all eyes will be on the Islamabad High Court’s next hearing on October 23, where the fate of Bushra Bibi’s bail plea will likely be decided.
Meanwhile, the FIA has intensified its investigation into the Toshakhana case, seeking to prove that both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi violated the rules governing the acceptance of state gifts and caused financial damage to the national treasury.
