After SC verdict on amended NAB law: AC transfers new Toshakhana case to other court

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad’s Special Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich has transferred the new Toshakhana reference case to a Special Judge Central, with bail hearings scheduled for September 10 (today).

The court remarked that after the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) regarding the NAB amendments, it no longer has the authority to hear the reference. Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi and Umair Majeed appeared during the hearing on Monday which was held in Adiala Jail.

The new reference against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi was transferred in the court of the Special Judge Central regarding the acquisition of expensive jewels of Bulgari Company from Toshakhana.

The NAB withdrew the new Toshakhana reference from the accountability court. On the occasion of the hearing, the NAB prosecutor took a stand in front of the court that after the restoration of the NAB amendments, the new Toshakhana reference has come out of the jurisdiction of the NAB. Accountability Court took a 3-hour break in the hearing and later transferred the new Toshakhana reference to the Special Judge Central.

The court declared that after the transfer of the reference, bail applications in the new Toshakhana case will be heard by the relevant court. The relevant court will hear case today (Tuesday).

During hearing Imran Khan came and took a stand in front of the court that NAB should be ashamed because his wife has been in jail for 7 months due to them although Bushra Bibi has nothing to do with these cases. However, the court has provided copies of the written decision of the court to the lawyers of the parties.

In the Toshakhana reference, it is alleged that Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi obtained jewelry according to the law from Toshakhana at a low price and these jewels were sold in the market.

Questions were raised. The value of the jewellery set was Rs75 million, which includes precious necklaces and other jewels. It should be remembered that NAB had arrested the two accused in the Toshakhana reference on July 13 this year.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder chairman Imran Khan Monday said that party’s August 22 rally was postponed on the request of the establishment. Talking informally to journalists in Adiala Jail, Imran said that the establishment had guaranteed that they would fully facilitate the September 8 public meeting.

“Azam Swati came to me at 7 am and said that the establishment had sent him requesting to postpone the rally for the sake of the country. Swati had given a message that the establishment had guaranteed that they would provide full facilities for the September 8 meeting.”

He said that on that message, the August 22 rally was postponed for the sake of Pakistan, adding that the message was given that on one side there was a cricket match and on the other side there was a protest of religious parties in Islamabad, and chaos may spread in the country.

It was guaranteed that NOC would be given for the meeting and facilities would be provided. Imran said that containers were placed and barricades were erected to stop the rally and then they were told to end the rally at 7 o’clock.

He said that Yahya Khan tore up the country and killed thousands of people to save his power. “The Hamudur Rahman Commission report, not I, says this. An operation was carried out against the party which won 160 seats, the same is being done even today to save its power.”

He said they by-passed the law and gave themselves NRO. This has never happened in the history of democracy. Cases worth billions of rupees have been waived through by-passing the law. Pakistan would not survive with taking loans.

“Money laundering has been legalised by issuing NRO through NAB amendments. No one can touch them now,” the PTI founder said, adding income grows with investment while Pakistan has the lowest investment in history.

Investment cannot come in Pakistan without rule of law. All countries are prosperous where there is rule of law. Singapore is half the size of Lahore and $140 billion were invested there. The law is being flouted in Pakistan, he said.

All the institutions have been engaged to eliminate one party, he said. The country can be saved through investment of overseas Pakistanis. Pakistan will not need loans if they invest. Overseas Pakistanis will invest when there is rule of law in the country, Imran said.

Pakistan is a country where one can invest in anything. The assets of 17,000 Pakistani physicians living abroad are worth $200 billion. The former prime minister said that during the PTI government, the growth rate was 6.2 percent and exports were increasing. “If I had to seek relief from the cases, I would have fled the country, I was told to keep quiet for three years, and the cases would be over,” Imran said.

“Today Bushra Bibi should have gone home after bail. The decision of the Supreme Court has come, now this reference is over. I have never seen the powerful stoop so low. This is a false reference. After the NAB amendments, not a single person is in jail except my wife. I have never seen anyone fight women like this,” he said.

The PTI founder chairman said that NAB itself said that Al-Qadir Trust was functioning properly. NAB Amendments Restoration has now become law, it is a legal matter, he added.