Written verdict finds both guilty of criminal breach of trust as PTI leaders promise action
Imran Khan and wife Bushra Bibi. Photo: File
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been convicted in the Toshakhana 2 case. A written verdict handed down on Saturday found both guilty of criminal breach of trust.
Khan has been sentenced to 10 years in prison under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code and a further 7 years under the Anti-Corruption Act. Bushra Bibi has been sentenced to 17 years in prison. Both have been fined Rs 164,25,650 each, with an additional six months’ imprisonment to be awarded in case of non-payment.
According to the written verdict, the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against both defendants with minimum sentences given Khan’s advanced age and Bushra Bibi being a woman. The time that has already been spent in custody is also included in the sentence.
The case
The accused are charged with illegally keeping a Bulgari jewelry set given as a gift by the Saudi crown prince during their visit to Saudi Arabia from July 7 to 10, 2021. The couple’s position is that they kept the gifts after paying half their value.
According to FIA records, the total value of the jewelery set, which included a necklace, bracelet, ring and earrings, was more than Rs70 million. The FIA, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obtained a letter of mutual legal assistance from the Italian Bulgari company and presented in court a letter with the original price.
However, the accused got the price of the set valued at just Rs5.9 million by a private firm, with the gift not deposited in the Toshakhana – the government depository – as required. The valuation was reportedly done through private valuer Sohail Abbasi and then through the customs authorities. According to Abbasi, Khan’s private secretary Inamullah Shah exerted pressure for a lower valuation.
On 13 July 2024, the National Accountability Bureau arrested Khan and Bushra Bibi in Adiala prison. They remained in NAB custody for 37 days. Following the restoration of the NAB amendments by the Supreme Court on September 9, the Accountability Court transferred the case to the FIA court.
The trial began on 16 September 2024, with Special Judge (Central) Shahrukh Arjumand conducting the first hearing at Adiala Jail. The Islamabad High Court granted bail to Bushra Bibi on October 23 and she was released the next day. The court also granted bail to Khan on 20 November, however the charges were formally framed on 12 December.
The trial continued for about a year, with more than 80 hearings held and 20 witnesses presented. Key witnesses included former Military Secretary Brigadier General (retired) Muhammad Ahmed, Sohail Abbasi and Inamullah Shah.
On behalf of the state, federal prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi, barrister Umair Majid Malik, Bilal Butt and Shahvez Gilani prosecuted the case. Khan and Bushra Bibi’s case was argued by their lawyer Arshad Tabraiz, Qausain Faisal Mufti and lawyer Salman Safdar.
PTI is crying foul
Speaking to media outside the Adiala jail, Safdar said the legal team was informed on Friday at 20.00 that the trial would take place at 9.00 Saturday. He said the judge on Oct. 16 had adjourned the case and set today’s date for arguments, not a verdict. “The judge did an illegal thing, it was announced in the absence of lawyers,” he said, adding that the judge issued a 59-page written decision.
He said Khan has asked him to file an appeal in the high court.
PTI leader Salman Akram Raja claimed that “there is an order that during the hearing, the presence of family members is mandatory,” adding that as part of the legal team, it is their right to be present during the hearing.
As for the case itself, Raja said there is nothing significant. “These are frivolous cases built on the flimsiest of testimony, they have no witness except the person whom the PTI founder himself removed,” he said.
Khan’s sister Aleema Khan claimed that injustice has been going on for two and a half years. “We were in Lahore, there was fog and they deliberately announced the decision. A barricade was put up a kilometer before here from both sides,” she said.
She added that Khan has directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to prepare for a street movement.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant for Information and Public Relations KP, Shafi Jan, issued a statement calling the case “compounded, false and baseless.” He added that “Imran Khan is not allowed access to his lawyers, sentencing him under these circumstances is a travesty of justice.”
Jan said PTI will decide its course of action after consulting legal experts regarding the verdict.
