ISLAMABAD: Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand has rejected acquittal pleas filed by former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana-II case.
The hearing for the Toshakhana-II reference took place at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, where the judge announced the reserved verdict on Thursday. The court rejected the pleas for acquittal and scheduled the formal framing of charges for Monday.
Imran Khan attended the court proceedings, while Bushra Bibi was notably absent. The hearing, initially scheduled for November 12, had been postponed to November 14 due to the judge’s unavailability.
Separately, in the Toshakhana-I case, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to overturn the sentences handed down to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi and remand the case for further proceedings. NAB prosecutor Amjad Pervez expressed dissatisfaction with the trial’s conduct, saying that he had already sought to suspend the sentences.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb presided over the Thursday hearing to review appeals against the sentences.
Barrister Ali Zafar requested an exemption for his clients from appearing in person, to which Justice Farooq replied, “Don’t worry, we’ll order it.” Pervez had no objection to the request.
Barrister Zafar argued that the trial process was flawed, describing it as a “jail trial” with rushed proceedings that infringed upon his clients’ rights. He said that on January 29, Bushra Bibi’s statement was recorded late at night, and her right to cross-examination was cut short. Imran Khan’s statement was not recorded until January 31, further compromising the defence. Following Zafar’s arguments, Justice Farooq instructed him to consult Imran Khan on the prosecutor’s remand request, cautioning, “If you oppose NAB’s proposal, we will rule on merit.”
Justice Aurangzeb added that disregarding technical errors could lead to either a retrial or a ruling on the case’s merits.
Zafar responded, asserting that the sentencing decision “cannot stand.” The court adjourned the hearing until November 21, directing Zafar to present a clear stance on NAB’s proposal by then.
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