Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are expected to be indicted in the new Toshakhana case at the next hearing. The latest proceedings took place at a makeshift court in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
During the hearing, copies of the challan (charge sheet) submitted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) were provided to the couple. The FIA prosecutor informed the court that the bail pleas filed by both defendants were made under NAB laws, but noted that the new Toshakhana case had been transferred to the FIA. Under FIA regulations, the application does not qualify as a bail plea.
This case marks the first instance since the NAB amendments that has been transferred to the FIA, and the prosecutor emphasized that it must be evaluated according to FIA rules. He suggested that the accused either amend their existing bail application or submit a new one.
Following these discussions, the court deemed the original bail application ineffective, prompting PTI’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, to file a new bail request. Preliminary arguments were also presented regarding the couple’s post-arrest bail application.
The court subsequently adjourned the hearing until September 26. The proceedings in this new Toshakhana case commenced last week after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was barred from pursuing the matter, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling restoring amendments to anti-corruption laws. The first hearing was presided over by Special Court Central Judge Shahrukh Arjumand in Adiala Jail.
