Imran arrested in Jinnah House attack case
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was arrested in the Jinnah House arson attack case on Sunday, following the arrest in a new Toshakhana reference by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
In the NAB reference case, an accountability court approved eight-day physical remand of Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi. The couple was accused of purchasing a jewellery set from the Toshakhana and selling it. The set is valued at Rs75 million.
On Saturday, the former prime minister and wife were acquitted in the Iddat Nikkah case by the additional district and sessions court, Islamabad – less than 24 hours after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the PTI on reserved seats. In his short order in the Iddat Nikkah case, Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Afzal Majoka stated that Imran and Bibi be released immediately unless they were wanted in other cases. However, hours later, NAB arrested both on charges related to the sale of the Toshakhana gifts.
On Sunday, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich conducted the remand hearing inside the Adiala Jail. During the hearing, NAB Deputy Director Mohsin Haroon requested for the physical remand of the two accused.
Initially, the court granted a six-day remand. However, on an appeal by Imran’s lawyer, Chaudhry Zaheer Abbas, the judge extended the remand to eight days, ordering their reappearance in the court on July 22. Till then, the couple would remain in Adiala Jail.
During the hearing, Imran and Bibi sat together, according to an Express News report. At the outset, Imran objected to the absence of the media, stating, “If the media is not allowed, I will walk out of the court,” according to an Express News report.
The court subsequently ordered the media representatives to be brought inside jail, and the hearing resumed once they arrived. Imran accused the higher authorities of targeting his wife due to his decisions.
“Bushra Bibi is only imprisoned to cause me distress,” Imran told the court. He criticised NAB, alleging that it operated like robots. “A former prime minister is being told in the middle of the night that he has to appear for a brand new case in the morning,” Imran said.
“In the previous reference, the jewellery set, which was valued at Rs18 million, was claimed to be worth Rs3.25 billion. I am only speaking about my wife. Re-arresting her [Bibi] was a grave mistake,” the PTI founder added.
Later, according to another Express News report, the Lahore police reached Adiala Jail and formally arrested Imran in a case of arson attack on Jinnah House in Lahore on May 9, 2023 under the provisions of inciting opposition to the state.
Quoting its police sources, the report said the PTI founder had been arrested in 12 May 9 related cases. The report added that the PTI founder would appear in the anti-terrorism court of Lahore via video link on Monday (today).
The report said that a 13-member team of the Lahore police questioned Imran regarding the Jinnah House, Askari Tower, Shadman police station attack cases. The investigation was conducted in light of digital evidence and the statements of the arrested accused, the report added.