IHC grants bail to Imran Khan in new Toshakhana case

Days ahead of the PTI’s planned protest on November 24, the the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has approved the bail plea of party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan in the new Toshakhana case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

IHC’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb conducted the hearing on Wednesday, directing Imran Khan to submit two surety bonds of Rs1 million each. The judge also ordered the PTI founder to appear before the trial court after bail, warning that the bail could be revoked if Imran Khan did not cooperate with the court during the trial. 

However, Wednesday’s order does not ensure Imran Khan’s release from jail as he faces multiple other cases in which he has yet to be granted bail. 

During the hearing, the court questioned what action was taken against the three customs officers responsible for the wrong assessment of the Bulgarian Jewelry set.
The FIA’s prosecutor said that it was a mistake on their part but it was not criminal misconduct by the officers. The NAB had not recommended any disciplinary action against these officers, he added.
 He said that the jewelry said was never submitted to toshakhana, adding that the accused managed to get a low-value assessment of the set and caused a loss to the national exchequer.
 He said that the PTI founder and his wife both took benefit of it. He further said that this court had granted bail to Bushra Bibi but she was not appearing before the trial court which is delaying the indictment process of the accused.  He said that the PTI founder misused his position and threatened the person responsible for assessing the value of the set.
On the occasion, Defense Lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar argued that his client was accused of misusing his position for personal gains. He said that there was the name of Bushra Bibi on the receipt but in the case of challan, it was not clear who is main accused was. The role of both accused is not clear in the crime, he maintained. 
The lawyer said that the case was registered with a delay of more than three years. He said that the gifts were received under section II of Toshakhana Policy 2018. 
Whatever the value of the jewellery was assessed the ammount was paid against it, he said, adding that the witnesses had changed their statements after three and a half years.

Giving remarks on  PTI-led previous government, Justice Miangul Hassan remarked that the previous government was even not willing to tell the information of toshakhana despite the queries of the court. That government was of the view that the details of toshakhana shouldn’t be public.
 The court after hearing arguments granted bail to PTI founder in the said case. 

Reporter Ehtisham Kiyani