Rawalpindi: In a recent development, an accountability court in Rawalpindi has extended the physical remand of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, by an additional 10 days in a Toshakhana case, as reported by Geo News on Monday.
Following the expiration of the previous seven-day remand period, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) submitted a progress report on the case to the presiding judge.
The court proceedings were attended by the NAB Prosecutor General, Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, and the investigative deputy director of the case, Mohsin Haroon.
During the course of the hearing, the defense counsel, Salman Safdar, opposed the extension of remand sought by the team representing the anti-corruption body.
The proceedings also saw a notable exchange between the former premier and the NAB Prosecutor General.
"My wife has no affiliations with the Toshakhana; why is she being penalized?" Imran Khan questioned, further stating that his wife was not a public official during his tenure as the premier.
In response, he made a critical remark, "The officials of the NAB are compromised individuals who will do anything for financial gain."
The court also witnessed a dispute between the former premier and the NAB Prosecutor General.
"My wife has no connections with the Toshakhana; why is she being punished?" Imran Khan questioned, adding that his wife was not a public official while he was in office.
Taking a critical stance, he continued, "The officials of the NAB are corrupt individuals who will do anything for money."
The court adjourned the proceedings until August 8, with a directive for the NAB team to present Imran and Bushra at the subsequent hearing.
The 71-year-old chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, who has been serving a sentence of nearly a year, has found himself in custody following his involvement in a multitude of legal proceedings. These include allegations related to the Toshakhana, cipher, and the issue of an un-Islamic marriage, as reported by Geo News.
His spouse, Bushra, has also been incarcerated for several months, as per Geo News.
Despite these challenges, there was a brief respite for the chairman when a court temporarily halted his sentence in the Toshakhana case. However, subsequent legal actions led to the reversal of his convictions in the Cipher and Iddat cases, respectively.
There had been considerable anticipation for the release of Imran and Bushra in July, only for those hopes to be dashed when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) apprehended them on new charges concerning the procurement of state gifts. The prospects of Imran's release from prison were further diminished following his arrest in new cases associated with the May 9 riots, following his acquittal in the Iddat case.
