The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has finished the first section of its research with Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the new Toshakhana reference. The Accountability Court has accepted an eight-day bodily remand for each PTI founder and Bushra Bibi.
Court Proceedings and NAB’s Request
Upon receiving the physical remand, NAB investigated with the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi at Adiala Jail. On Sunday, NAB presented the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi before Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich in Adiala Jail. NAB requested a 14-day physical remand, alleging that the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi acquired a jewelry set from a friendly country at a low price from Toshakhana and sold it at a higher market price for financial gain.stated that the value of the Bulgari jewelry set from the friendly country was 75 million PKR. NAB argued that the physical remand was necessary to advance the investigation.
Defense Argument and Court’s Decision
The defense counsel opposed the request for physical remand, arguing that NAB had arrested both individuals without following SOPs. They claimed that NAB did not take the court into confidence before the arrest and that the warrants were not issued. The defense also informed the court that a pre-arrest bail application had already been filed in the Toshakhana reference.
Despite this, NAB arrested both individuals after receiving court notices on July 15. The defense also highlighted that three Toshakhana references had been filed against the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi, and they had been acquitted in two. The third reference was prepared based on previous inquiries.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court initially approved a six-day physical remand. Still, it extended it to eight days following a request from the defense, citing a clash with another court appearance on July 20. The court directed NAB to present the accused in court on July 22. NAB completed its first investigation phase during the remand period, with the accused remaining in Adiala Jail.
Additional Arrests and Investigation
A Lahore police team formally arrested the PTI founder in connection with 12 terrorism cases, including the Jinnah House attack. An 11-member police team completed the first phase of the investigation and kept the PTI founder in Adiala Jail. The court will request physical remand today, and the PTI founder will be presented via video link to the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court.
On Sunday, an 11-member Lahore team led by DSP Ahmed Usman arrived at Adiala Jail, where separate investigative officers registered their reports and began the investigation. The PTI founder was formally arrested for the May 9 incidents, including the Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and Shadman police station attacks.
The Lahore police asked various questions about the May 9 and 10 incidents in 2023. Due to security reasons, the PTI founder will remain in Adiala Jail for the Lahore cases. He will be presented via video link to the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court today to request a physical remand.
Media Protest and Court Interaction
At the start of the new Toshakhana reference hearing, the PTI founder protested the absence of the media. Which led to some media representatives being allowed into the jail. During the hearing, the PTI founder told the judge that NAB had initiated a new case to harass him and his wife, as they knew the jewelry set in the first Toshakhana reference was still with them.
They claimed that his wife had no connection with Toshakhana and was imprisoned only to torment him. He urged the judge to consider the responsibility placed by Allah on judges. Stating that NAB officials were acting like robots, carrying out any task for a salary. He lamented the re-arrest of his wife, saying it was a ploy by influential individuals to cause him distress.
The PTI founder, Imran and Bushra Bibi sat together and conversed throughout the hearing.
