Bushra Bibi, former first lady and wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, was released from Adiala Jail on Thursday after the Islamabad High Court granted her bail in the Toshakhana 2 case.
Her release was facilitated by the submission of bail bonds worth Rs1 million by her guarantor, Malik Tariq Mehmood Noon. The Islamabad Accountability Court, presided over by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand, issued the release order. Bushra Bibi departed for Bani Gala, accompanied by her security detail, as confirmed by her legal team, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
In a statement to the media, Barrister Gohar expressed confidence that Bushra Bibi would not face further arrests, asserting, “There is no need to arrest Bushra Bibi in any case.”
The Islamabad High Court, under Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, had approved her bail on October 23, 2024, requiring two surety bonds of Rs1 million each for her release.
During the hearing, Justice Aurangzeb highlighted the challenges in determining the value of Tosha Khana gifts, noting the necessity of auction processes for accurate valuation. He also questioned the rationale behind implicating Bushra Bibi, drawing parallels to the case of Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa, which involved similar issues regarding a spouse’s actions.
Although the High Court granted bail on October 23, procedural delays related to the submission of bail bonds postponed her release. Several attempts were hindered by incorrect documentation, extending her time in custody until Wednesday afternoon.
The Toshakhana 2 case involves allegations of the illegal retention and sale of valuable gifts received by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi during official trips, including luxury watches that were reportedly sold without proper procedures.
Following a Supreme Court ruling on amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the matter.
This case has drawn considerable attention since July 2024, when both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were arrested shortly after being granted bail in another case related to their marriage during Iddat.
