IHC orders release of Imran Khan in Toshakhana 2.0 case

ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday granted bail to former prime minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana 2.0 case, Express News reported.

IHC judge Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb allowed the PTI founder’s bail plea and ordered the latter to post bond of Rs1 million each to secure the bail.

The court also directed the jailed former prime minister to appear before a court on bail.

During the proceedings today, PTI’s legal counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, argued that the charges against the PTI founder were based on the use of influence for personal gain.

He argued that the indictment did not clearly specify who the central accused was and that the case was filed more than three years after the alleged incident.

Barrister Salman further argued that no crime was committed under the Toshakhana policy as the gifts were acquired in accordance with the established procedure.

Justice Aurangzeb also made significant observations about the previous government’s policy of keeping Toshakhana details confidential, adding that such information was regularly withheld when asked by the court.

The FIA ​​prosecutor countered that the Bulgari set of gifts was not registered with Toshakhana and alleged that the PTI founder and his wife had caused financial loss to the state by undervaluing the gifts.

The court adjourned the hearing after an adjournment during which the FIA ​​prosecutor raised questions regarding the delay in the indictment of Bushra Bibi, PTI founder’s wife, in the case.

After approving the bail, the court also warned that the bail could be revoked if misused in future.

Toshakhana 2.0

Bushra Bibi received the Bulgari jewelery set during a visit to Saudi Arabia from 7 to 10 May 2021.

The jewelery set included a ring, a bracelet, a necklace and a pair of earrings.

During the investigation of the reference, it was found that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi illegally kept the Bulgari jewelery set.

On 18 May 2021, the Deputy Military Secretary informed Toshakhana’s Section Officer to appraise and declare the value of the jewelery set, but it was not deposited.

According to the reference, Bulgari had sold the necklace to the Saudi Arabian franchise Solugent Trading on May 25, 2018 for 300,000 euros and the earrings for 80,000 euros.

However, the prices of the bracelet and ring were not available. As of May 28, 2021, the total value of the Bulgari jewelry set was approximately Rs 75,661,600.

The necklace was valued at 56,496,000 Rupees and the earrings at Rs 15,065,600.

According to the Toshakhana rules, the value of the jewelery set, after paying 50 per cent, should be Rs 35,765,800.

However, the NAB reference added that by undervaluing the jewelery set, a loss of Rs32,851,300 was incurred to the national exchequer.

The PTI founder along with Bushra Bibi has violated Section 9 and Subsections 3, 4, 6, and 12 of the NAB Ordinance 1999.