Verdicts coming from ‘elsewhere’ merely being announced by ‘puppets’: Imran

Ex-PM says involving his wife, Bushra, in cases is a deliberate attempt solely aimed at tarnishing his reputation

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who was handed down a 14-year jail sentence in the Toshakhana case along with his wife Bushra Bibi a day earlier, said that verdicts against them were coming from "elsewhere" and their “puppets” were merely announcing them.

The verdict came just a day after a special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, awarded  Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi 10 years imprisonment in the high-profile cypher case.

Speaking to journalists following a hearing of “un-Islamic” marriage case, Khan lashed out at the judges making the decisions, saying that they were turning the justice system into a spectacle.

“We will show the public in a press conference that necklace [in Toshakhana case] based on which the conviction was made,” he added.

Imran said that the necklace was not in Toshakhana (gift depository) and that a Saudi envoy himself had brought it to his residence, adding that Bushra Bibi had nothing to do with the case.

Read more: Imran, Qureshi compromised secret cypher comms system: court says in detailed verdict

Regarding allegations against him, Khan clarified, "I did not enter politics to strike deals or seek personal benefits. Including Bushra Bibi in cases was a move to tarnish my reputation.”

On Bani Gala being declared “sub-jail”, Khan stated, "I just found out that Bushra Bibi was moved to Bani Gala last night. We did not request or seek any special treatment for her."

The former prime minister said that there was no connection between Bushra Bibi and the cases against her but despite that, she voluntarily came to jail to surrender.

“She [Bushra] voluntarily came to jail as many PTI women members were already imprisoned,” he said and added he did not know why his wife was moved to Bani Gala.

A day earlier, Bushra Bibi voluntarily surrendered before the accountability court in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail after receiving a 14-year sentence in the Toshakhana case.

Later in the day, Bushra was relocated to Bani Gala, the Islamabad residence of Imran Khan, following its designation as a sub-jail, as per a notification.