Wife of ex-PM Khan faces arrest for skipping corruption trial

A high court in Pakistan's capital region issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Bushra Bibi, the wife of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, after she failed to appear for another hearing in a corruption case involving state gifts.

The warrants are bailable, meaning she can avoid arrest by posting bail.

Bibi, freed on bail in October after a year's detention in the corruption case, now also faces terrorism charges after leading violent anti-government protests in Islamabad last month demanding Khan's release. She has since missed multiple court appearances, with her lawyers citing security threats and other cases.

At the hearing held in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, Special Judge Central Shah Rukh Arjumand expressed frustration over Bibi's absence, noting that her lawyer had previously assured her attendance. "Salman Safdar had assured in the last hearing that Bushra Bibi would appear in court," the judge remarked.

Her lawyer, Usman Gul, argued that Bibi's absence was due to pending legal matters elsewhere. "Bushra Bibi has gone to court to obtain bail in additional cases," Gul told the court, referring to multiple new cases filed against her following recent political protests. He promised full cooperation with the trial process and indicated that either Bibi would appear personally by Monday or a legal representative would be appointed.

The prosecution, led by Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi, pressed for progress in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case, expressing concern over repeated delays. "This is the tenth hearing, but charges haven't been framed yet," the prosecutor noted, highlighting that Bibi had appeared for only two out of 10 hearings since receiving bail in October.

"The trial cannot be stopped even if Bushra Bibi doesn't come," the prosecutor argued, successfully petitioning for arrest warrants. The court also issued a notice to Bibi's guarantor, warning that surety bonds could be confiscated if she continues to avoid court appearances.

Barrister Gohar, appearing for the defense, appealed for leniency, citing both health issues and the unprecedented number of cases against his client. "Our cases are being run on fast track," he argued, suggesting that the rapid succession of legal proceedings was overwhelming the defense team's capacity to respond.

The court proceedings revealed that Bibi's legal team has already appointed Rai Salman Amjad as her pleader in a separate case involving alleged misappropriation of 190 million pounds, suggesting a strategy to manage her multiple ongoing legal battles through designated representatives.

The prosecution strongly opposed any further accommodations. "Isn't the court's attitude already merciful?" the special public prosecutor asked rhetorically, pointing to multiple previous opportunities given for appearance. "Despite being given multiple opportunities, Bushra Bibi has not appeared in court."

Escalating legal troubles

Bibi's legal troubles have escalated dramatically since her release on bail in the Toshakhana case. After spending a year in detention, she was granted bail in October 2024. She played a prominent role in the November protests advocating for Khan's release.

Following the protests, she was named in an FIR along with 18,000 others, facing charges including terrorism, attempted murder, kidnapping, and possession of firearms. During the protests, she had declared she would "stand here until my last breath," but was later reported to have left the scene before the final security operation.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has implicated her in orchestrating the unrest, while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused her of seeking casualties for political gain. PTI, meanwhile, claims she faced an assassination attempt while retreating to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.