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

RAWALPINDI, Jan 31 (SABAH): 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 a combined amount of 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 was 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.

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.