Toshakhana Case
ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), along with his wife Bushra Bibi, has challenged their recent arrest in a new Toshakhana reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Their legal battles continue despite their recent acquittal in the iddat case, a milestone in their legal proceedings.
In their petition filed at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the arrests, Khan and Bushra named the chairman, director general, and other officers of NAB as respondents.
The petition contends that their arrest was conducted unlawfully, violating constitutional rights and fundamental liberties, particularly their right to liberty and due process.
The controversy began on July 13 when a team from NAB arrested Khan and Bushra at Adiala Jail in connection with allegations of misusing power to acquire gifts from Toshakhana (state repository of gifts).
This arrest came immediately after Bushra Bibi was acquitted in the iddat case, leading to her rearrest from the jail’s premises.
An accountability court subsequently approved an eight-day physical remand for both Khan and Bushra in the fresh graft reference.
Imran Khan has been in detention since August last year following his conviction in the Toshakhana case and subsequent legal battles leading up to the February 8 elections.
While Khan has secured bail in multiple cases registered in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad, an anti-terrorism court recently revoked his bail in 12 cases related to violence against military and state installations following his arrest in May 2023.
Earlier in June, the Islamabad High Court overturned Khan’s conviction in the cipher case, where he was sentenced to 10 years for allegedly leaking state secrets.
However, Khan still faces convictions in two cases related to the illegal acquisition and sale of state gifts, with his sentences temporarily suspended pending appeal.
The legal challenges faced by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi underscore ongoing political tensions and judicial scrutiny in Pakistan.
The petitions filed against their arrests highlight broader issues concerning rule of law, accountability, and the exercise of executive power in the country’s political landscape.
As the legal proceedings continue, the outcomes are pivotal not only for Khan and Bushra but also for the political dynamics and governance in Pakistan, shaping public perception and the future course of legal reforms in the country.
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