Written verdict finds both guilty of criminal breach of trust as PTI leaders vow action
Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. Photo: File
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been convicted in the Toshakhana 2 case. A written verdict presented on Saturday found the two men guilty of criminal breach of trust.
Khan was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code and another 7 years under the Anti-Corruption Act. Bushra Bibi was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Both were fined Rs 164,25,650 each, with an additional six months’ imprisonment for non-payment.
According to the written verdict, the prosecution successfully proved its case against both accused, with the minimum sentence being imposed taking into account Khan’s advanced age and the fact that Bushra Bibi is a woman. The period already spent in detention is also taken into account in the sentence.
The case
The defendants are accused of illegally possessing a Bulgari jewelry set gifted by the Saudi Crown Prince during their visit to Saudi Arabia from July 7 to 10, 2021. The couple’s position is that they kept the gifts after paying half their value.
According to FIA records, the total value of the jewelry set, which included a necklace, bracelet, ring and earrings, was over Rs70 million. The FIA, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obtained a letter of mutual legal assistance from the Italian company Bulgari and presented the court with a letter indicating the initial price.
However, the accused saw the price of the set valued at just Rs 5.9 million by a private company, with the gift not deposited in the Toshakhana – the state depository – as required. The valuation was reportedly carried out through private valuer Sohail Abbasi and then through customs authorities. According to Abbasi, Khan’s private secretary, Inamullah Shah, lobbied for a lower valuation.
On July 13, 2024, the National Accountability Bureau arrested Khan and Bushra Bibi from Adiala Prison. They remained in NAB custody for 37 days. After the Supreme Court reinstated the NAB amendments on September 9, the accountability court transferred the matter to the FIA court.
The trial began on September 16, 2024, with Special Judge (Central) Shahrukh Arjumand conducting the first hearing in Adiala jail. The Islamabad High Court granted Bushra Bibi bail on October 23, and she was released the next day. The court also granted Khan bail on November 20, but the charges were formally framed on December 12.
The trial continued for approximately a year with over 80 hearings held and 20 witnesses presented. The key witnesses included former military secretary Brigadier (retd) Muhammad Ahmed, Sohail Abbasi and Inamullah Shah.
On behalf of the state, federal prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi, advocate Umair Majid Malik, Bilal Butt and Shahvez Gilani prosecuted the case. Khan and Bushra Bibi’s case was defended by their lawyers Arshad Tabraiz, Qausain Faisal Mufti and lawyer Salman Safdar.
PTI cries scandal
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Prison, Safdar said the legal team was informed at 8 p.m. on Friday that the proceedings would take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday. He said that on October 16, the judge adjourned the case and set today’s date for proceedings and not for the verdict. “The judge did something illegal, it was announced in the absence of lawyers,” he said, adding that the judge issued a 59-page written decision.
He said Khan had asked him to appeal to the High Court.
PTI chief Salman Akram Raja argued that “there is an order that during the hearing, the presence of family members is mandatory”, adding that as a member of the legal team, it is their right to be present during the hearing.
Regarding the case itself, Raja said there was nothing substantial. “These are frivolous cases built on the weakest of testimonies, they have no witnesses except the person whom the PTI founder himself impeached,” he said.
Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, said the injustice had existed for two and a half years. “We were in Lahore, there was fog and they announced the decision knowingly. A barricade was erected a kilometer before here on both sides,” she explained.
She added that Khan had ordered Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to prepare for a street movement.
Meanwhile, KP’s Special Assistant for Information and Public Relations Shafi Jan issued a statement calling the matter “concocted, false and baseless.” He added that “Imran Khan does not have access to his lawyers, convicting him under these circumstances is a travesty of justice.”
Jan said the PTI would decide its course of action after consulting legal experts regarding the verdict.
