RAWALPINDI: A special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has reserved its verdict on acquittal pleas of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in new Toshakhana case.
The hearing was conducted by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand at a makeshift court in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail in the case in which the ex-prime minister and former first lady accused of misusing power to acquire state gifts.
The case was previously being heard by the anti-corruption watchdog’s accountability court, however, it was transferred to the FIA in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict restoring amendments to the anti-corruption laws.
Lawyers concluded their arguments on Khan and Bushra’s acquittal pleas in today’s hearing. The court then reserved its verdict which would be announced on November 12.
During the proceeding, the court deferred indictment of the couple in the new Toshakhana case wherein the couple is accused of buying the jewellery set at a throwaway price.
The expensive set — comprising a ring, bracelet, necklace a pair of earrings — was gifted to the former first lady on her visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2021, as per the National Accountability Court’s (NAB) reference.
It added that the deputy military secretary briefed the Toshakhana section officer to estimate and declare the price of the jewellery set. The jewellery set, it mentioned, was not deposited in Toshakhana.
The jewellery company sold the necklace for €300,000 and earrings for €80,000 on May 25, 2018. The information regarding the price of the bracelet and ring could not be obtained from the company.
On May 28, 2021, the price of the jewellery set was estimated at Rs70.56 million; the price of the necklace was Rs50.64 million and the price of the earrings included in the jewellery valued at Rs10.50 million back then.
According to the rules, the 50% price of the jewellery set is approximately Rs30.57 million.
The national exchequer suffered a loss of approximately Rs30.28 after the jewellery was undervalued. –Agencies
