IHC takes up Imran's acquittal plea on 5th

Former PM, spouse could not be indicted in gifts case

RAWALPINDI:

PTI founder Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, on Saturday submitted their acquittal pleas in a case related to violation of official gifts repository rules during Imran's term as the prime minister for appropriating a precious jewelry set presented as a gift by Saudi royals.

A trial court, presided over by Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, will hear these pleas on Tuesday, November 5. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) last week granted bail to Bushra in the case. The high court is also going to hear Imran's post arrest bail application in the case on Monday, November 5.

On Saturday, the trial court judge held a hearing of the case in a courtroom inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail where Imran has been detailed for the last one year. Bushra also attended the proceedings.

Bushra had come to the prison in a bullet-proof vehicle escorted by commandos from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Police. The commandos were, however, not allowed to accompany the former first lady inside the prison. Imran's PTI party rules the K-P province.

During the proceedings, counsels for Imran and Bushra submitted their applications for acquittal. The couple's lawyers Salman Akram Raja, Salman Safdar, Usman Gul, and Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry also submitted their power of attorney documents.

The counsels for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)—the prosecution in the case—opposed the move. Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi stated that the defendants are deliberately trying to defer the indictment process. He said filing an acquittal request does not mean that the case cannot proceed.

The court, however, issued notices to the parties on the acquittal requests and adjourned till November 5. Lawyer Faisal Chaudhry and Imran's sister Noreen Khan were present in the courtroom. Imran Khan was wearing a warm maroon-colored hooded jacket.

The FIA claims that Imran obtained the valuable jewelry set worth Rs71.5 million for Rs2.9 million during his term as the PM.

Earlier, 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.

It alleges that 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.