Imran's bail plea in gifts case dismissed

Trial court to indict former PM, wife on Oct 2

RAWALPINDI:

A trial court has dismissed the bail applications submitted by former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in a case related to alleged misuse of authority by Imran during his term as the PM for getting a precious jewelry seat from state's gift repository.

The court is going to indict the couple on October 2.

Islamabad Central Judge Shahrukh Arjumand on Monday announced the order on the PTI founder and his wife's bail pleas in a courtroom inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail where Imran and Bushra are currently detained after conclusion of arguments from both the parties.

During the hearing, the prosecution argued that the PTI founder obtained the valuable set worth Rs71.5 million, received as a gift from Saudi Arabia, for Rs2.9 million.

"The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had confirmed the original price of the Bulgari set through the Foreign Office, which included a necklace, earrings, bracelet, and ring.

"As the PM, Imran had the market value of the set assessed at Rs5.8 million. Instead of submitting the state gift to the Toshakhana, he kept it for himself," he said.

He said Imran had the price of the set assessed through his office secretary, Inam Shah, and both Inam Shah and the Toshakhana appraiser confirmed the process. The prosecution asserted that the case against Imran and Bushra was proven, and requested the dismissal of the bail application.

Defense lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar argued that the new Toshakhana case was similar to the previous reference, with identical charges and witnesses, and the same defendants in both cases.

He contended that the case should be dismissed following the Supreme Court's decision to reinstate NAB amendments. Despite the case being transferred from an accountability court to the court of a special central judge, bail was not granted to the accused. He requested the court to approve bail.

After hearing detailed arguments from both sides, the court reserved its decision and later announced the rejection of the defendants' bail application. FIA prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi appeared with a team of lawyers, while Barrister Salman Safdar represented the defendants in court.