Imran, Bushra sentenced to 14-year imprisonment in Toshakhana case

In another blow to PTI and its founder Imran Khan, the former premier and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana case on Wednesday. The verdict comes a day after the PTI founder was sentenced to 10 years in the cypher case by a special court established under the Official Secrets Act. The former premier’s wife, Bushra Bibi, surrendered before the court soon after the verdict was announced. The NAB team, already at the jail, where the hearing was being conducted, took her into custody as soon as she reached. Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir presided over the hearing at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, where the former prime minister is incarcerated. Imran and Bushra were also barred from holding any public office for the next 10 years and were fined around Rs1,574 million. The judge also asked the two to record their statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and closed the right of cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses. The couple were indicted in the reference on January 9. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan termed the Toshakhana verdict as not only injustice, but also cruelty. He criticised NAB for withdrawing cases filed against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N), while handing out punishments to PTI leaders.  "Bushra neither had any connection to the Toshakhana case nor were any of the state gifts under her name," said Gohar. He maintained that everything was being done to pressurise Imran, and urged PTI supporters and workers to remain peace and vote for the party on February 8. Following the verdict, Imran’s sister Aleema Khan stated that the PTI founder could have gotten into an agreement and eased his legal troubles, but instead, he is standing firm in his resolve to save the nation. پاکستانیو آپ کا لیڈر چاہتا تو ڈیل کر کے باہر چلا جاتا لیکن وہ آپ کے لیے ڈٹ کر کھڑا ہے آپ نے بس ہمت نہیں ہارنی — Aleema Khan (@Aleemakhan_) January 31, 2024 'Complete destruction of every existing law' Reacting strongly to the verdict, the PTI termed it as "complete destruction of every law" and claimed the former premier and first lady have faced "yet another kangaroo trial". The party further said no right of defence was given to either Imran or Bushra and the case has "no basis" to stand on in any higher court, similar to the cypher trial. Complete destruction of every existing law in Pakistan in 2 days. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have faced yet another kangaroo trial in which no right to defence was given to both. Like cipher, this case has no basis to stand in any Higher court. It’s shameful how a complete… https://t.co/HTHSRmOfDh — PTI (@PTIofficial) January 31, 2024 Read List of Toshakhana gifts from 2002 to 2023 Verdict to be challenged PTI Secretary General Umar Ayub, terming the Toshakhana verdict a “mockery of the law”, stated that the accountability court judgment will be challenged in the high court and vowed to continue the legal battle against the "prevailing injustice". We will appeal against this decision in the High Court & continue our legal battle. We should harness and channel these energies for the polling day on 8th February 2024 by ensuring a massive voter turnout -@OmarAyubKhan #ناانصافی_کا_بدلہ_ووٹ_سے https://t.co/NCqtOiNlrb — PTI (@PTIofficial) January 31, 2024 He urged party supporters to stay calm and peaceful. “PTI followers have to mobilise themselves in every area and encourage the people to cast their vote on February 8,” said Ayub. Ayub added that all party workers need to create awareness about PTI's candidates contesting the elections as independents and help the party win a three-fourth majority. 'Can never be broken' PTI lawyer Intazar Hussain Panjutha said the former first lady gave herself up to the authorities and added that "such people can never be broken". بی بی خود چل کر اڈیالہ جیل گرفتاری دینے جارہی ہیں یہ ہیں وہ لوگ جن کو توڑا نہیں جاسکتا، اصل ٹکر کے لوگ ہیں — Intazar Hussain Panjutha (@intazarpanjutha) January 31, 2024 The counsel said the sentences in the cypher and Toshakhana case will not stand in any court of law as they were announced without properly recording statements under Section 342. توشہ خانہ اور سائفر میں 342 کے بیان کے بغیر یہ سزائیں کسی عدالت میں بھی ٹک ہی نہیں پائیں گی، یہ بس دنوں کی بات ہے یہ عجلت صرف الیکشن کی وجہ سے ہے — Intazar Hussain Panjutha (@intazarpanjutha) January 31, 2024 Taking a jibe at Maryam Nawaz, Panjutha said that if it was her instead of Bushra, a hundred of excuses would have been made to avoid the arrest. اگر آج مریم کو سزا ہوئی ہوتی تو سو بہانے تلاش کرتی لیکن یہ کہتان کی اہلیہ تھی جو خود چل کر گئی ہے، مایوس کرنے والو اس سزانے تو لوگوں میں خان اور بی بی کا مقام اور اوپر کر دیا ہے اب الیکشن تو خان ہی جیتے گا — Intazar Hussain Panjutha (@intazarpanjutha) January 31, 2024 The lawyer added that the verdict has elevated the status of the former PM and his wife among the people and that now no power could stop Imran from winning the elections. PTI counsel Ali Zafar deemed the entire process of the Toskhana proceedings a ‘drama’, and stated that it can not be called a trial. He said that the sentence, announced abruptly, is similar to the cypher judgment; adding that the court delivered the verdict in a hurry as a petition against the lack of cross-examination was to be heard today by the high court. “The lawyers of Imran and Bushra were not given a chance for cross-examination, neither the accused were allowed to present any witnesses, nor the statement of the accused was recorded,” said Zafar. یہ کیسز ہیں نہ ٹرائل، یہ ڈرامہ ہے، بڑی جلدی تھی سزا دینے کی، آئین اور قانون کی خلاف ورزی ہوئی ہے، اس میں کوئی شک نہیں کہ یہ سزا جلد معطل ہو جائے گی،- @SyedAliZafar1 #ناانصافی_کا_بدلہ_ووٹ_سے pic.twitter.com/YzP0Ore7sw — PTI (@PTIofficial) January 31, 2024 He added that they had expected such a verdict from the court, announcing that the legal team would file an application to receive a copy of todays order along with an appeal against the Toshakhana sentence. Zafar stated that Article 10-A of the Constitution was violated and the party's legal team is confident that the sentence will be suspended. Toshakhana reference The crux of the accusations revolves around Imran and Bushra allegedly retaining gifts received during their official visits to foreign countries while Imran Khan served as the prime minister. Instead of following the prescribed official protocol by depositing these gifts in the Toshakhana, the couple purportedly kept them and contributed an amount less than the stipulated value into the national treasury. Bushra, in particular, is accused of holding on to various jewellery items received as gifts during official visits. The list of allegedly retained gifts includes a locket, two rings, two ear tops, and two bracelets received on June 26, 2019. In 2020, she reportedly acquired a diamond-studded gold necklace, ring, bracelet, and ear tops. The list expanded in 2021 with the addition of a necklace, earrings, ring, and bracelet. Despite repeated requests from the NAB for the return of these gifts, especially the jewellery items, Bushra has allegedly failed to comply. In response, the NAB directed her to appear at the NAB Rawalpindi office on December 11 and bring the specified ornaments with her. Subsequently, Bushra obtained bail until December 13 in this case from the accountability court in Islamabad.      

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