Prosecution witness links Khan, wife to 108 state gifts in Toshakhana case

A prosecution witness testified on Monday that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, received 108 state gifts during Khan's tenure.

The testimony adds new evidence to the Toshakhana 2.0 case, which accuses the couple of profiting illegally from state gifts, including a Bulgari jewelry set and six Rolex watches.

Binyamin, a section officer from Pakistan’s Cabinet Division, presented 100 pages of records from Toshakhana, the state gift repository. He also submitted documentation outlining legal procedures for appraising such gifts, a central issue in the case.

The defense began its cross-examination with Bushra Bibi’s lawyer, Advocate Arshad Tabrez. Khan’s lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, is set to continue the cross-examination at the next hearing on February 2.

Khan’s message from jail

In a message from jail, Khan claimed the charges against him are politically motivated. The former cricket star accused Pakistan’s powerful military establishment and his political rivals of conspiring to oust him in 2022.

Khan also challenged statements by a military spokesperson about the resettlement of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He alleged the proposal came from former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, not his government, and was opposed by his cabinet members including Murad Saeed.

Referring to the May 9 riots following his arrest, Khan described the events as a “pre-planned operation.” He claimed CCTV footage was deliberately removed and alleged that 25 supporters were killed while hundreds were injured. He called for an independent judicial commission to investigate both the May 9 events and the “massacre” of civilians in Islamabad on November 26.

Khan dismissed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as “just the twelfth man” in politics. He announced his party would continue its remittance boycott campaign until the government shows a genuine commitment to negotiations.

Khan blamed Pakistan’s economic decline on compromised courts, internet shutdowns, political interference, and a failure to address terrorism politically rather than militarily.

High-security trial

The case is being heard by Special Judge Shahrukh Arjumand in a courtroom set up at Adiala Jail, reflecting heightened security concerns. Khan, who secured bail in other cases, remains in custody over charges related to the May 9 riots.

Understanding the Toshakhana 2.0 case

Toshakhana, meaning “treasure house” in Persian, is Pakistan’s repository for gifts received by public officials. Officials can retain gifts by paying a percentage of their value to the state.

The Toshakhana 2.0 case alleges that Khan and Bushra Bibi undervalued and sold state gifts illegally during his premiership from 2018 to 2022. Key allegations include the illegal sale of seven luxury watches, including six Rolexes, and a Bulgari jewelry set reportedly gifted during a 2021 visit to Saudi Arabia.

Initially handled by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the case was transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in September following a Supreme Court ruling limiting NAB’s jurisdiction to cases involving sums exceeding PKR 500 million.

Khan’s legal team maintains that all acquisitions and sales were lawful and declared. They argue the case is part of a broader trend of using corruption charges to marginalize political opponents, a longstanding issue in Pakistan’s politics.