Pakistani court denies bail to ex-PM Khan, wife in state gifts case

A special court convened at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail denied on Thursday bail to former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a case pertaining to the illegal sale of state gifts, also known as Toshakhana 2 case.

Both Khan and Bushra Bibi face multiple charges, including selling gifts worth millions of rupees received from the state treasury, or 'Toshakhana', during Khan’s 2018-2022 term as prime minister.

While Bushra Bibi was released on bail from prison last month, Khan remains detained at Adiala Jail.

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The hearing

Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand announced the decision reserved following a hearing on Nov. 8. The court set Nov. 18 as the date for formally presenting charges against Khan and Bushra Bibi. Although Khan appeared in court, Bushra Bibi was absent.

During the proceedings, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Legal Sajid Cheema requested additional time to submit a final investigation report. Judge Arbab Muhammad Tahir questioned the repeated delays but ultimately granted the request, requiring a comprehensive report by Monday.

The case

The case focuses on accusations that Khan and his wife misappropriated state gifts during his premiership. The upcoming hearing could mark the formal indictment of the couple.

Since Khan's ouster in 2022 and the launch of his protest movement against a coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he and Bushra Bibi have faced numerous legal battles. The government maintains it does not interfere in judicial matters, but Khan’s clash with powerful military generals, whom he accuses of backing Sharif, has fueled the nation’s worst political crisis in decades.