On Thursday, PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were formally indicted in the Toshakhana 2.0 case by a special court, despite both denying the charges. The court has set December 18 for the prosecution to begin presenting its witnesses. The couple appeared in court at Adiala Jail before Special Court Central-I Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, where the charges were read out, marking the start of the legal proceedings. The hearing was adjourned after the indictment.
Imran Khan is currently in Adiala Jail facing multiple charges, including the “Iddat case” that led to his initial arrest. Bushra Bibi, on the other hand, was acquitted in the Iddat case and granted bail in other cases. The couple’s indictment had previously been delayed twice—first in October and then in early November—due to requests from their defense lawyers.
Additionally, a separate hearing was held in the 190 million Pounds reference case, where Imran Khan submitted a signed statement, and his lawyers informed the court that he would not present witnesses in his defense. The case was adjourned until December 17 for the prosecution’s closing arguments.
In a related development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) warned that Bushra Bibi’s bail in the Toshakhana 2.0 case could be revoked if she fails to appear in court. Despite being granted bail in October, Bushra Bibi had repeatedly missed hearings, prompting the court to issue arrest warrants for her on December 5. Her lawyer explained that the delays were due to various legal proceedings, but the court expressed concern about her absence and the seriousness of the case.
The NAB reference accuses the couple of misusing their powers, specifically related to the retention of gifts during Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister, which allegedly violated the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance.
