The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding acquittal pleas filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Toshakhana II case. The hearing has been adjourned to January 28.
Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas presided over the hearing, where Khan’s counsel, Salman Safdar, requested a stay on the trial court proceedings. The request was denied, with the judge stating that there is no precedent for halting criminal proceedings at this stage.
Safdar also sought a change of bench, suggesting Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, who had previously heard related petitions, should preside over the case. Justice Inam rejected the request, clarifying that previous cases involved bail, whereas this matter pertains to acquittal pleas.
The FIA has accused the couple of misusing their positions to acquire a Bulgari jewellery set at a discounted price, allegedly causing financial losses to the state. The set, gifted by a foreign leader, included a necklace, earrings, bracelets, and rings. The prosecution claims the couple influenced the valuation process to obtain the items at a lower cost.
In response, Khan’s legal team argued that the gifts were obtained in line with the 2018 Toshakhana policy, and payments were made according to official valuations.
The Toshakhana II case is the third corruption reference against the former prime minister and his wife. They were indicted last month over the purchase of the jewellery set. Earlier, they had filed acquittal pleas in the IHC, seeking to overturn the trial court’s rejection of their earlier request. The petitioners argued that the trial court’s decision was legally flawed and sought their exoneration.
