An Accountability Court (AC) in Pakistan on January 31 sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana case, ARY News reported.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), on December 19, last year, filed a reference against the PTI founder and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Toshakhana case.
The verdict was pronounced by AC Judge Muhammad Bashir. The PTI founder and his wife were also disqualified from holding any public office for ten years.
The judge also slapped a fine of Pakistani rupee (PKR) 787 million. In the January 30 hearing, the PTI founder was brought to court, but Bushra Bibi did not appear, as per ARY News.
After being asked about his statement of 342, the former Prime Minister replied: “The statement is in the room, I was only called to appear before the court.”
The judge directed Imran Khan to submit his statement immediately and remarked: “Don’t waste court time.”
“The lawyers have not come yet, I will submit the statement after showing them,” the PTI founder said and then left the courtroom, according to ARY News.
Following the verdict of the NAB court, former First Lady Bushra Bibi reached Adiala Jail to surrender before the graft-buster team.
Bushra Bibi, who did not appear before the court in today’s hearing, reached Adiala Jail in her car to surrender. The former PM’s wife was arrested by the ladies’ police.
Sources confirmed earlier that the National Accountability Bureau team was ‘constituted’ for the arrest of former First Lady Bushra Bibi. Sources familiar with the development said that the NAB team, along with a police party, will leave to arrest Bushra Bibi after a detailed verdict from the court.
The Toshakhana case became a major sticking point in national politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified the PTI chief for making “false statements and incorrect declaration” last year.
It also comes just a day after a special court established under the Official Secrets Act sentenced Imran and his Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, to 10 years in prison for the breach of state secrets, as per ARY News.
Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain announced the verdict in the cipher case soon after recording the statements of the two accused under Section 342 during the hearing on January 30.
(with inputs from ANI)
