Daily Times

A special court in Islamabad on Thursday dismissed acquittal pleas of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Toshakhana 2.0 case.

Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand announced the verdict, with formal charges expected to be framed on 18 November. Imran Khan attended the court proceedings, while Bushra Bibi was notably absent. The hearing had previously been postponed to 14 November due to the judge’s unavailability on 12 November, the original date set for the decision.

The Toshakhana 2.0 case centres on allegations that Khan, as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, and Bushra Bibi retained state gifts without fulfilling legal obligations. The court deferred the indictment to next week, with a final decision on charges anticipated.

In the Toshakhana case, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has requested the Islamabad High Court to nullify sentences handed down to former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, and to remand the case for further proceedings.

NAB prosecutor, Amjad Pervez stated that he disagreed with the manner in which the trial and sentencing were conducted, admitting that he had already called for suspending the sentences.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb presided over the hearing on Thursday, reviewing appeals against the sentences.

Barrister Ali Zafar requested exemption for his clients from appearing in person, to which Justice Farooq responded, “Don’t worry, we’ll order it.” Pervez expressed no objection to the exemption request.

Separately, Imran Khan on Wednesday filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court, seeking judicial redress over alleged breaches of his party’s fundamental rights.

Khan in the petition, called for a judicial inquiry led by three senior Supreme Court judges to investigate what he claims are systematic anti-PTI actions that violate basic constitutional rights.

The petition urges the Court to issue directives for the restoration of PTI’s fundamental rights. It also pleads an immediate halt to the misuse of Section 144 and detentions under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance. Khan further requested orders against the withholding of no-objection certificates (NOCs) for PTI meetings and gatherings. The federal government, including the Ministries of Defence, Interior, and Cabinet Division, are made as respondents in the petition in addition to four provincial governments.