After their acquittal in iddat case, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi are likely to be arrested in May 9 riots cases and a new reference related to Toshakhana gifts, respectively, Geo News reported citing sources.
The NAB is expected to issue arrest warrant for Bushra Bibi in a new Toshakhana case.
A team of the anti-corruption watchdog headed by Deputy Director Mohsin Haroon reached Adiala Jail to question the former first lady over alleged “misuse of power for acquiring Toshakhana gifts”, the sources said.
In another development, the sources revealed that Lahore police did not make any progress to nab the former prime minister after his interim bails were dismissed by the anti-terrorism court (ATC) two days ago.
It emerged that Khan’s arrest was not declared in the May 9, 2023, riots cases as per the Adiala Jail records.
A Lahore Police team investigating May 9 cases against the PTI chief has also reached Adiala Jail, the sources added.
According to an NAB inquiry report, the new case is about the “illegal possession and sale of 10 expensive [Toshakhana] gifts”. A second team also arrived at the Rawalpindi jail under the supervision of NAB Assistant Director Naeem Ullah.
The anti-graft watchdog’s teams are expected to seek Bushra’s arrest in a new reference soon, the sources added.
The sources further said that Bushra Bibi’s lawyers also submitted a pre-arrest bail plea in the court that heard £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement case today, citing her expected arrest in the new NAB reference.
While talking to journalists outside the Rawalpindi jail, the ex-premier’s lawyer Intazar Panjutha said that “conspiracy to break down the PTI founder has failed as he is now facing no more cases against him” which needed to keep him behind bars.
He added that the court issued mandamus (robkar) for Khan and Bushra’s release. He further said that both of them were not facing arrests in any other case as per Adiala Jail’s records till Saturday morning.
Panjutha said that his party leadership ordered workers not to gather at Adiala Jail in the current circumstances.
The developments were witnessed after a district and sessions court in Islamabad acquitted the former premier and his spouse in the iddat case — also known as the un-Islamic nikah case — which was the last hurdle in Khan’s release from jail.
More to follow…
