Imran, wife face new gifts reference

ISLAMABAD:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed another Toshakhana reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, accusing the couple of keeping expensive Bulgari jewellery set by undervaluing its price.

Bulgari is the name of an internationally acclaimed luxury brand known for its high-end products.

According to the reference, the jewellery set, consisting of a bracelet, necklace, ring and pair of earrings, was gifted to Bushra Bibi by Saudi crown prince during Imran's tenure as the prime minister in May 2021. It added that the set was approximately worth Rs75.661 million.

As per the Toshakhana rules, the reference said, the couple could have kept the set by paying Rs35.796 million – half of the actual price. However, after under-pricing the set, the couple kept it illegally, thus causing Rs32.851 million loss to the national exchequer.

The reference alleged that the PTI founder and his wife misused their authority and kept 58 out of 108 gifts during Imran's premiership in violation of Section 9 and Sub-sections 3, 4, 6 and 12 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

Toshakhana-II reference was submitted to the Registrar Office of the Islamabad accountability court on Tuesday by investigating officer Mohsin Haroon and case officer Waqarul Hasan. It would now be submitted to Administrative Judge Nasir Javed Rana for approval and referral to the court for hearing.

The reference contained a list of 22 witnesses, which included Toshakhana Section Officer at Cabinet Division Binyamin, Prime Minister House Protocol Officer Talat Mehmood, former military secretary to prime minister Brig Muhammad Ahmed and former prime minister's personal secretary Inamullah Shah.

Besides, NAB Director Shafqat Mehmood, Additional Director NAB Headquarters Qaiser Mehmood, Assistant Director at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Faheem, investigating officer Mohsin Haroon were also included in the witness list.

In the previous NAB reference, the couple are accused of purchasing a jewellery set from the Toshakhana at lower price and then selling it. Currently the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi are in jail on judicial remand in the case.