Imran, wife booked in forgery case over Toshakhana watch

A police case was registered against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, Farah Gogi, former advisers Shahzad Akbar and Zulfi Bukhari on charges of fraud and forgery by falsely using the name of a shop in the sale of a Toshakhana watch.

Complainant Naseemul Haq, who owned Art & Time in Islamabad, told the Kohsar police that the accused prepared fake receipts of his shop for a precious watch from the Toshakhana, which were used for the watch’s sale.

The accused persons showed the fake bills made on the letterhead of his shop, Haq alleged. He added that his shop never purchased any watches or any watches gifted to Imran Khan nor any transaction of any amount was conducted from Art & Time account.

The issue surfaced after a businessman from Dubai confirmed the purchase of a valuable watch, carrying the picture of the holy Kaaba on its dial, from former prime minister Imran Khan, which was in the state repository.

Read more: Former first lady, spiritual leader: Who is Bushra Bibi?

The complainant requested the police that strict legal action should be taken against Imran Khan, Bashri Bibi, Farah Gogi, Shehzad Akbar and Zulfi Bukhari for falsely using the name of his shop and telling lies.

A senior officer of the Islamabad Police told The Express Tribune that it was a criminal case, in which the complainant had levelled a serious allegation that the letterheads of his shop were used to create fake receipts.

Therefore, if Imran did not prove his innocence, the case against him, his wife and other nominated accused would proceed. He added that investigating officers would record the statements of the accused and they would be included in the investigation.

When asked about the arrest of the accused in this case, the officer said that a warrant was required for the arrest of the accused in a criminal case only if the police had to go inside the office or house of an accused.

However, he added that if the accused person could be arrested from a bazaar or market or any open place, the search warrant was not required, rather the accused would be shown the copy of the case that he was wanted to the police.

The officer acknowledged that this particular case was against a former prime minister, his wife, a former federal minister, a former adviser to prime minister, and a friend of the former prime minister's wife.

So surely these were influential persons, the officer said, adding that if they didn't get bail before arrest, the police would have to get the arrest warrants from the concerned district court to arrest them from their homes.