By Web Desk — In a major development ahead of the anticipated November 24 protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, the founder of the party, has been granted bail in the Toshakhana 2.0 case by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). This decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal challenges faced by the former prime minister.

On Wednesday, IHC’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb accepted Khan’s bail plea, which was secured against two surety bonds of Rs1 million each, to be provided by separate guarantors. Following this ruling, Imran Khan is no longer wanted in any other cases under Islamabad’s jurisdiction.

However, the IHC directed the PTI leader not to “misuse the concession of bail” and advised him to appear before the trial court for each hearing unless a specific exemption is granted. The court also warned that his bail could be revoked if he fails to cooperate with the concerned court of law for the trial proceedings.

Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were arrested on July 13 in connection with the Toshakhana case, just after the couple was acquitted by an Islamabad district and sessions court in the “illegal nikah case.” Last month, Bushra Bibi was released from jail after spending nearly nine months in custody.

The case, originally being heard by the accountability court, was transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) following the Supreme Court’s ruling that restored amendments to anti-corruption laws.

Court Proceedings

During the court session, the FIA prosecutor raised concerns about media narratives suggesting the approval of bail before the decision was announced. Justice Aurangzeb urged the prosecutor to ignore such speculations, emphasizing that the media reports would not influence the court’s decisions.

The prosecutor also brought up the issue of a jewellery set that was allegedly undervalued. Justice Aurangzeb questioned how the PTI leader benefited from the undervaluation, dismissing the argument that the wife’s benefit automatically extended to Khan himself. Barrister Salman Safdar, representing Imran Khan, countered that the valuation of the jewellery followed the Toshakhana policy of 2018 and was conducted legally.

The defence team also highlighted discrepancies in receipts, pointing out that certain receipts were issued in Bushra Bibi’s name, not Imran Khan’s. Furthermore, they argued that key witnesses, such as Sohaib Abbasi, had provided testimony that was inconsistent and unreliable.

Political Reactions

The bail decision has sparked a wave of reactions across Pakistan’s political landscape. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif welcomed the court’s ruling, asserting that all cases against Imran Khan were politically motivated. He was hopeful that that Imran Khan would soon lead the “Haqeeqi Azadi” (Real Freedom) movement.

Imran’s lawyer, Barrister Safdar, echoed this sentiment, stating that all cases against the PTI founder were now over. He added, “There’s no case left in which Imran needs bail,” signaling the potential for his full release.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, congratulated Safdar for his two-year-long legal effort, expressing optimism for her brother’s release. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram also appreciated the court’s decision, calling it a victory against the “fabricated cases” filed against Imran Khan by the ruling government.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, however, criticized the decision, referring to Imran Khan as the “laadla” (blue-eyed) prime minister, accusing him of receiving favorable treatment.

The Toshakhana 2.0 Case Explained

The Toshakhana 2.0 case revolves around a luxury jewellery set gifted to Bushra Bibi by the Saudi royal family during her husband Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The NAB has alleged that the jewellery, which included a ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings, was not deposited in the Toshakhana, as required by law.

The reference filed by NAB further claims that the jewellery set, valued at approximately Rs70.56 million, was undervalued, resulting in a loss to the national exchequer. The investigation revealed that the jewellery set was sold in 2018 for a total of €380,000, yet it was undervalued when assessed for Toshakhana purposes.

According to the anti-corruption watchdog, the undervaluation of the jewellery set led to financial harm, with the national treasury losing an estimated Rs35.28 million.