ISLAMABAD:
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have challenged their convictions in the Toshakhana-II case in the Islamabad High Court.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry appealed on Monday on their behalf.
The separate appeals were filed on Friday by Barrister Salman Safdar and were assigned diary numbers 24560 and 24561.
The petitions allege the lawsuit was politically motivated and legally flawed.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced on 20 December 2025 to 17 years in prison. They were convicted under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs164.25 million on each of them.
The appeals challenge the conviction on several grounds, including double jeopardy, illegal splitting of a single offense and procedural violations.
Read: Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi sentenced to 17 years in Toshakhana 2.0
They state that the sentences are “unfair, unfair and appear to be a direct manifestation of political victimization”.
The petitions allege that the case was orchestrated by Imran Khan’s political opponents.
The appeals also challenge the trial court’s reliance on the testimony of Syed Inamullah Shah and Sohaib Abbasi. Shah is described as a dismissed employee, while Abbasi is accused of being appointed as an approver without meeting legal requirements.
The defense questions Shah’s credibility, citing his dismissal for allegedly drawing double salaries and his alleged political links with Imran Khan’s opponents.
The petitions claim that Imran Khan does not qualify as a “public servant” under Section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code. They cite a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that held that elected officials do not fall under the definition of public servants in this context.
Read more: The Toshakhana verdict is a ‘mockery of the law’
The appellants also object to Khan and Bushra Bibi being convicted under both the PPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. They argue that this amounts to multiple sentences for the same offence, which is prohibited by law.
According to the appeals, Bulgari’s jewelery put at the center of the case was retained in accordance with the Toshakhana rules. They say 50% of the assessed value above the Rs30,000 exemption limit was paid as required.
The defense claims that no criminal offense was committed and that all procedures were followed lawfully.
PTI’s counsel has asked the Islamabad High Court to declare the Toshakhana-II judgment null and void. In the complaints, it is also requested that the case be postponed for processing as soon as possible.
