Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to Face Indictment in New Toshakhana Case on November 18
- Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi face indictment on November 18 over the alleged illegal sale of a gifted jewelry set.
- The couple is accused of not depositing valuable gifts in Toshakhana, resulting in state financial loss.
- NAB alleges Imran retained 58 out of 108 official gifts as PM, prompting a 2022 inquiry.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are set to be indicted in a new Toshakhana case on November 18, as announced by a special Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) court. The court, which also dismissed the couple’s acquittal pleas filed earlier this month, reserved its verdict on these pleas on November 8.
The new Toshakhana case revolves around the alleged illegal sale of a jewelry set gifted to Bushra Bibi by the Saudi crown prince during Khan’s term as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. This case is separate from an earlier Toshakhana case in which the couple received a 14-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs1.57 billion (Rs787 million each) in January, a sentence later suspended by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in April.
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Bushra Bibi’s release from Adiala Jail last month, following a successful bail plea in the IHC with Rs1 million surety bonds, sparked speculation regarding a possible deal, which National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub categorically denied, stating, “Bushra [Bibi’s] release is not part of any deal.”
The new reference, filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), accuses the couple of failing to deposit the jewelry set in the Toshakhana. The NAB claims the jewelry set was instead sold, with records indicating that the necklace was valued at €300,000 and the earrings at €80,000 as of May 2018. The jewelry’s total estimated value in May 2021 was Rs70.56 million, with the necklace alone priced at Rs50.64 million.
The reference further alleges that Khan and Bushra Bibi misused their powers, violating the NAB Ordinance by retaining 58 out of 108 gifts received during Khan’s tenure. An inquiry into these actions was initiated by NAB in August 2022 on the orders of the NAB chairman, accusing the former first couple of causing a substantial financial loss to the national exchequer.
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