Pakistan court nears verdict in state gifts case against Imran Khan and his wife

A Pakistani court is moving closer to delivering a verdict in the high-profile Toshakhana II case against former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, as proceedings inched toward completion during a hearing held inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Saturday.

The case, which centers on whether the couple misused state protocol by failing to properly declare luxury gifts from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was adjourned until October 8 after cross-examinations concluded.

Trial enters final phase

Presided over by Special Judge (Central) Shahrukh Arjumand, the hearing marked the completion of the prosecution’s testimony, with the final witness — National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation officer Mohsin Haroon — cross-examined by the defense counsel, Qauseen Faisal Mufti.

Both Khan and Bushra Bibi have been provided with a set of 29 questions each under Section 342 of Pakistan’s Criminal Procedure Code, which they are expected to answer at the next hearing.

Imran Khan’s legal team, including senior lawyers Salman Akram Raja, Barrister Ali Zafar, Barrister Saif, Misbah Yousafzai, and Ahmad Musarrat, attended the session alongside Khan’s three sisters. Representing the federal government, prosecutors Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi and Barrister Umair Majid appeared for the National Accountability Bureau.

With testimonies from all 20 prosecution witnesses now complete, the trial is expected to conclude within the next few hearings — potentially bringing an end to one of the most closely watched corruption cases in Pakistan’s recent history.

Family voices concern over ‘targeted campaign’

Outside Adiala Jail, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan told reporters that the former premier and his family were facing “a targeted campaign” by the authorities.

“Imran Khan has been in prison for two years, and now his sisters, especially me, are being targeted,” she said. “We have no political ambitions - our only goal is our brother’s release.”

Aleema claimed officials had warned that Khan could remain jailed for up to ten years but dismissed those warnings as politically motivated. “These are baseless cases. He has vowed not to bow down, and we stand by him,” she said.

She also revealed that authorities may transfer Khan from Adiala Jail to a more restrictive facility following the conclusion of the trial. “We are told he will be completely isolated,” she alleged, adding that two of Khan’s sisters will now regularly convey his messages to the public.

The case

The Toshakhana II case stems from allegations that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi failed to deposit state gifts received during his tenure as prime minister into Pakistan’s official repository.

Earlier testimony from former military secretary Brigadier (retired) Muhammad Ahmad revealed that Khan and his wife had allegedly directed him not to submit certain luxury items - including a Bulgari jewelry set, perfume oils, dates, olive oil and a book - gifted by the Saudi crown prince. Ahmad said he had documented the items and notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but was instructed to withhold them.

According to investigators, the Federal Investigation Agency valued the jewelry set at over 70 million rupees, while Khan reportedly had it appraised privately at 5.9 million rupees and deposited only 2.9 million rupees into the national treasury. The prosecution argues this amounted to deliberate undervaluation, while Khan’s defense maintains the valuation process followed legal procedure.

The case is one of several legal challenges confronting Khan since his ouster in 2022. He also faces charges of inciting attacks on the military during anti-government protests - allegations he and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, say are part of a broader campaign to eliminate him from Pakistan’s political landscape.