Written verdict finds both guilty of criminal breach of trust as PTI leaders vow action
Imran Khan and wife Bushra Bibi. Photo: File
Former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced in the Toshakhana 2 case. A written verdict presented on Saturday found both guilty of criminal breach of trust.
Khan has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code and an additional 7 years under the Anti-Corruption Act. Bushra Bibi has been sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment. Both have been fined Rs164,25,650 each, with an additional six months’ imprisonment to be awarded in case of non-payment.
According to the written verdict, the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against both accused, with the minimum sentence awarded in view of Khan’s advanced age and Bushra Bibi being a woman. The period already spent in custody has also been counted towards the sentence.
The case
The accused are charged with unlawfully retaining a Bulgari jewellery set gifted by the Saudi Crown Prince during their visit to Saudi Arabia from July 7 to 10, 2021. The couple’s stance is that they kept the gifts after paying half of their value.
According to FIA records, the total value of the jewellery set, which included a necklace, bracelet, ring, and earrings, was more than Rs70 million. The FIA, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obtained a Letter of Mutual Legal Assistance from the Italian Bulgari company and presented in court a letter of the original price.
However, the accused had the price of the set assessed at only Rs5.9 million by a private firm, with the gift not deposited in the Toshakhana—the state repository—as required. The valuation was reportedly carried out through private appraiser Sohail Abbasi and then through customs authorities. According to Abbasi, Khan’s private secretary Inamullah Shah exerted pressure for a lower valuation.
On July 13, 2024, the National Accountability Bureau arrested Khan and Bushra Bibi in Adiala Jail. They remained in NAB custody for 37 days. After the restoration of the NAB amendments by the Supreme Court on September 9, the Accountability Court transferred the case 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 bail to Bushra Bibi on October 23, and she was released the next day. The court also granted bail to Khan on November 20, however, charges were formally framed on December 12.
The trial continued for approximately one year with more than 80 hearings held and 20 witnesses presented. Key witnesses included former Military Secretary Brigadier (Retired) Muhammad Ahmed, Sohail Abbasi, and Inamullah Shah.
On behalf of the state, Federal Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi, Barrister Umair Majid Malik, Bilal Butt, and Shahvez Gilani pursued the case. Khan and Bushra Bibi’s case was argued by their counsel Arshad Tabraiz, Qausain Faisal Mufti, and Barrister Salman Safdar.
PTI cries foul
Speaking to media outside Adiala Jail, Safdar said the legal team was informed at 8pm on Friday that proceedings would take place at 9am Saturday. He said that on October 16, the judge had adjourned the case and set today’s date for arguments, not a verdict. “The judge did an illegal thing, it was announced in the absence of lawyers,” he said, adding that the judge brought a 59-page written decision.
He said Khan has instructed him to file an appeal in the High Court.
PTI leader Salman Akram Raja argued that “there is an order that during the hearing, the presence of family members is mandatory,” adding that as part of the legal team, it is their right to be present during the hearing.
Regarding the case itself, Raja said there is nothing substantial. “These are frivolous cases built on the weakest testimony, they have no witness except the person whom the PTI founder himself removed,” he said.
Khan’s sister Aleema Khan argued that injustice has been happening for two and a half years. “We were in Lahore, there was fog, and they knowingly announced the decision. A barricade was set up one kilometre before here from both sides,” she said.
She added that Khan has directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to prepare for a street movement.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant for Information and Public Relations K-P, Shafi Jan, issued a statement terming the case “concocted, fake, and baseless.” He added that “Imran Khan is not being given access to his lawyers, sentencing him under these circumstances is a mockery of justice.”
Jan said that PTI will decide its course of action after consulting legal experts regarding the verdict.
