Court places Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi on 15-day judicial remand

Summary:

• Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have been placed on a 15-day judicial remand in a new Toshakhana case.
• The couple’s arrest follows their acquittal in a previous case and is linked to alleged misuse of state gifts.
• They have challenged their detention, claiming their fundamental rights have been violated.

Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been ordered to spend 15 days in judicial remand in connection with a new Toshakhana reference. This development came during a hearing at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, led by Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana. The new reference, filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in July, accuses the couple of misusing their positions to acquire state gifts from the Toshakhana.

The couple, who had completed a previous 10-day physical remand, appeared before the court with their legal representatives. Their lawyers, Zaheer Abbas Chaudhary and Salman Safdar, along with NAB Deputy Director Mohsen Haroon and Special Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, presented their arguments. During the hearing, Khan and Bushra submitted written responses to NAB’s questionnaire.

This new Toshakhana case emerged shortly after the couple was acquitted in a separate case concerning alleged un-Islamic marriage practices. Hours after their acquittal, Khan and Bushra were arrested by NAB in connection with the Toshakhana gifts. The anti-corruption team, led by Haroon, detained them at Adiala Jail, and Bushra was rearrested after briefly being released.

In January, NAB had confirmed its intention to pursue additional cases against Khan related to the Toshakhana gifts. Despite a prior court decision not to extend Khan’s physical remand in December 2023, the legal issues have persisted. Khan and Bushra have contested their detention, arguing that their arrest infringes on their rights to liberty and due process.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has intervened, directing NAB to seek the couple’s response to its questionnaire. The hearing has been adjourned until August 21, with Justice Miangul Hassan emphasizing the need for NAB to justify their actions. The ongoing legal battles highlight the complex and contentious nature of the charges facing the former prime minister and his wife.