RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is scheduled to be presented before a court today (Thursday) as the police seek his physical remand in connection with a vandalism case.
The hearing will take place at an anti-terrorism court set up at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Khan has been incarcerated. As Pakistan’s only prime minister to be removed via a vote of no-confidence, Khan has been in prison for over a year, facing multiple charges alongside his party leaders and supporters. His latest arrest relates to a vandalism case filed against him in September, which came just hours after he was granted bail in a separate Toshakhana case.
A police spokesperson confirmed late Wednesday that a team led by the SSP Investigation from Rawalpindi had formally arrested the former prime minister at Adiala Jail.
The FIR (First Information Report) for the case was filed at Rawalpindi’s New Town police station following PTI’s protest on September 27. The case accuses Khan of inciting arson and damaging property, and it was registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) along with relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and several PTI leaders, including Seemabia Tahir, Amir Mughar, and Aliya Hamza, have also been named as co-accused in the case. The FIR mentions that five suspects—Khalil, Imran, Sadaqat, Yaseen, and Tahir—were arrested at the scene, with a petrol bottle allegedly recovered from suspect Tahir.
The charges outlined in the FIR include terrorism, attempted murder, vandalism, destruction of public property, and interference with government functions. It claims that PTI protesters caused disruption by burning tyres, obstructing public access, and engaging in violent actions, including stone-throwing and attacks with iron rods. The report also alleges that several police vehicles were damaged, one officer was injured by glass, and government firearms were seized and fired in the air, causing panic.
New Toshakhana Case
In a separate development, a hearing on the new Toshakhana case—where Khan has secured bail—will also take place today. Both Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are expected to be presented in court, with the couple facing potential indictment. The judge has warned Bushra Bibi that failure to appear could result in the cancellation of her bail.
The case relates to a jewelry set gifted to Bushra by the Saudi royal family during Khan’s tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) claims the couple illegally retained the jewelry, which included a ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings, despite the rules requiring such gifts to be deposited in the Toshakhana.
According to NAB, the jewelry was sold privately, with the necklace fetching €300,000 and the earrings €80,000 in 2018. The set’s estimated value in 2021 was Rs70.56 million, with the necklace valued at Rs50.64 million and the earrings at Rs10.5 million. Under the rules, the couple should have paid 50% of the value, approximately Rs35.28 million, to the national treasury, but NAB alleges the jewelry was undervalued, resulting in a loss to the national exchequer.
