Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has reportedly been placed under house arrest at her residence in Bani Gala. This action follows her conviction in the infamous Toshakhana case. Authorities have designated the Bani Gala residence as a “sub-jail” to confine the former first lady, as per the request of the Adiala jail superintendent.
Both Bushra and Khan have been sentenced to a 14-year jail term each, as announced by Judge Muhammad Bashir of the accountability court. The verdict stems from the illegal sale of state gifts. Additionally, the court has disqualified the former prime minister from holding public office for 10 years and imposed a hefty fine of Rs1.57 billion, with each being fined 787 million.
During a previous hearing held at Adiala jail, Bushra Bibi provided her statement under Section 342. Khan informed the court that his wife had no involvement in the case and was being unfairly implicated.
In today’s hearing, Judge Bashir inquired whether Khan had recorded his statement. Khan stated he would submit his statement once his lawyers arrived, expressing feeling deceived as he was summoned only to mark his attendance.
The sentencing by the anti-graft court in Islamabad comes after Khan and PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi received a 10-year jail term in a case related to the leaking of state secrets.
Khan had also received a three-year prison sentence in August the previous year for the sale of gifts exceeding 140 million rupees during his premiership from 2018 to 2022. Wednesday’s verdict pertains to the same matter but follows an investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which also charged Khan’s wife in the case.
Despite Khan’s earlier three-year sentence being suspended, he remains incarcerated in connection with other cases. He maintains that he legally acquired the state gifts, while government officials allege his aides sold the gifts in Dubai.
Toshakhana, established in 1974, is a department under the Cabinet Division responsible for storing precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments, states, and foreign dignitaries as goodwill gestures. These gifts include bulletproof cars, gold-plated souvenirs, expensive paintings, watches, ornaments, rugs, and swords.
Under Toshakhana rules, government officials can retain gifts of low value, while they must pay a reduced fee for extravagant items. The department has come under scrutiny following allegations that Khan purchased gifts received as prime minister at low rates and sold them for significant profits. The case revolves around misusing Khan’s premiership from 2018 to 2022 to buy and sell gifts worth over Rs140 million, including watches, allegedly sold by his aides in Dubai.
The Electoral Commission, prompted by a reference from National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, investigated the matter and declared Khan guilty of corrupt practices in October 2022, subsequently filing a complaint in an Islamabad court.
