Toshakhana 2 Case: PTI Founder, Bushra Bibi Sentenced to 17 Years Each

PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana II case.

Special Judge Central Arjumand Shah delivered the verdict in the Toshakhana II case in the presence of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in Adiala Jail; however, none of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s lawyers reached the court.

Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were also sentenced to 7 years imprisonment each under PPC Section 409, giving a total sentence of 17 years. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 16.4 million on Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

It may be recalled that on July 13, 2024, NAB arrested PTI founder and Bushra Bibi in Adiala Jail in the Tosha Khana II case.

The PTI founder and Bushra Bibi remained in NAB custody in Adiala Jail for 37 days, and after the investigation was completed, NAB filed a reference in the Toshakhana II case in the Accountability Court on August 20.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate NAB amendments, the Tosha Khana II case was transferred to the FIA ​​Anti-Corruption Court on September 9, 2024.

The FIA ​​added Section 5 of the Anti-Corruption Act and Section 409 of the PPC to the Tosha Khana II case.

The trial of the Toshakhana 2 case began on September 16, 2024. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand conducted the first hearing of the Toshakhana 2 case in Adiala Jail on September 16.

On October 23, 2024, the Islamabad High Court granted bail to Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana 2 case. On October 24, 2024, Bushra Bibi was released from Adiala Jail.

In Toshakhana II, the Islamabad High Court also granted bail to the founder of PTI on November 20, 2024, while the accused were indicted in the Toshakhana II case on December 12, 2024.

The trial of the Toshakhana II case lasted for about a year in Adiala Jail. There were a total of 21 witnesses in the case, and the statements of 18 witnesses wererecorded,d and their cross-examination was completed.

Key witnesses included former Military Secretary Brigadier (retd) Muhammad Ahmed, Private Appraiser Sohaib Abbasi, and PTI’s former Principal Secretary Inamullah. The FIA ​​prosecution team dropped four witnesses.

PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are accused of receiving a Bulgari jewelry set from the Saudi Crown Prince in 2021. According to FIA records, the total value of the jewelry set was more than Rs 715 million.

The record of the jewelry set was also obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The accused charged a private firm for a Bulgari set for only Rs. 5.9 million. The jewelry set included a necklace, bracelet, ring, and earrings.

The gift received by the accused from the Saudi Crown Prince was not deposited in the Tosha Khana. The value was determined by private appraiser Sohaib Abbas and then by customs officials. Influence was used to obtain an undervalued estimate; the Bulgarian jewelry set was not deposited in the Tosha Khana, nor was the correct price determined.

According to private appraiser Sohaib Abbas, the petitioner’s private secretary, Inam Shah, pressed for a lower valuation.

More than 80 hearings of the Tosha Khana II case were held in Adiala Jail, with Federal Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi and Barristers Umair Majeed Malik, Bilal Butt, and Shahweez Gilani prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The case of the founder of PTI and Bushra Bibi was fought by their lawyers Arshad Tabrez, Quthin Faisal Mufti and Barrister Salman Safdar.