Imran's gifts case acquittal plea dismissed

NAB requests IHC to dismiss Toshakhana-1 case

ISLAMABAD:

A trial court in Islamabad has rejected the acquittal pleas of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a case related to alleged violation of the official gifts repository—Toshakhana—rules during Imran's term as the PM. The court is likely to indict the couple on November 18.

Meanwhile, in another interesting development, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to set aside an accountability court's January 31 verdict, convicting Imran and Bushra in another gifts case and to remand back the case for retrial.

On Thursday, Islamabad Central Court-I Senior Special Judge Shahrukh Arjumand unveiled his order on the pleas filed by the PTI founder and his wife during a hearing held inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail where Imran has been detained for over one year.

The former PM appeared in the courtroom freshly shaved and in a grey sweater. Bushra, who was granted bail in the case last month, did not show up and submitted a request through her counsels to be excused from attending court that day. The court approved her request.

In its 5-page detailed order, the trial court noted that investigation in the case was independently carried out by NAB. It said the value of the jewelry—allegedly acquired by Imran in alleged violation of rules—was reported to be much higher as ascertained by Bulgari, the maker of the jewelry.

It said the piece of evidence could not be brushed aside at this stage. The court said a fair opportunity has to be provided to the prosecution for bringing all the relevant facts on record during trial.

The trial stated that the earlier Toshakhana reference filed against Imran and his wife had been finally decided while the instant case is at initial stage in which charge is yet to be framed.

"With the above observations, separate applications filed by accused for their acquittal are dismissed," it added.

Meanwhile, an IHC bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on Thursday heard Imran and his wife's plea seeking dismissal of a trial court's January 31 order in the Toshakhana-1 case. The IHC on April 1 suspended the trial court's order.

Barrister Ali Zafar appeared on behalf of the PTI founder and his wife, while Special Prosecutor Amjad Pervez and Prosecutor Rafiq Maqsood represented NAB in court.

During the hearing, Pervez said he personally disagreed with the procedure by which the Toshakhana case convictions were handed down, which is why he had previously stated the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi's sentences should be suspended.

He requested the court to dismiss the trial court's order and remand it back for retrial.

Addressing the petitioner's lawyer, the IHC chief justice asked, "Mr Ali Zafar, what do you say about the statement from the NAB prosecutor?"

Zafar replied that in his view, the trial court's verdict could not be defended.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb noted that there were only two options for the PTI founder: he could accept what Amjad Pervez was proposing or request the case to restart from the indictment stage in the trial court.

"If you accept neither, we won't consider technical flaws but instead review the case on merit," he said. The court then adjourned the hearing until November 21 while asking Barrister Ali Zafar to consult with Imran and Bushra on NAB's request.