Pakistan's political landscape is witnessing a dramatic turn of events. Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister, is already in jail over the Toshakhana case. Now, his wife, Bushra Bibi, also faces the threat of arrest in a separate corruption case. This development could deal a double blow to Khan, who is grappling with legal troubles ahead of the elections next year.
The Allegations Against Bushra Bibi
Bushra Bibi is under investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for alleged financial transactions. The case revolves around an undisclosed amount of money received by Bushra. If evidence is found against her, she could be included in the list of accused as a witness, leading to her possible arrest.
Recent reports in the Pakistani media suggest that Bushra Bibi may have information related to a transaction involving **Farah Princess**. Two political parties, **PML-N** and **MQM**, have levelled several allegations against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. PML-N's Atta Tarar has linked Farah with the couple, claiming that Farah's declared and undisclosed assets saw an increase of Rs 4,520 million from 2017 to 2020.
Imran Khan's Legal Troubles
Meanwhile, the NAB has intensified its investigation into the ongoing Toshakhana corruption case against Imran Khan and the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA). The £190 million case, also known as the Alkadir Trust case, could further compound Imran's problems.
Imran Khan was sentenced to three years in prison by the Islamabad District Court in August this year. He was convicted in the Toshakhana case, which involves the sale of expensive gifts received during his foreign trips as Prime Minister. The court found Imran Khan guilty of corruption in this case.
What is the Toshakhana case?
The Toshakhana case is a significant corruption case in Pakistan that led to the disqualification of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from holding public office for five years. The case was filed by members of the Pakistan Democratic Movement in August 2022.
Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division in Pakistan, established in 1974. It stores gifts and other expensive items received by public officials. According to its rules, it's compulsory for officials to report the gifts and other such materials received by them to the Cabinet Division.
Imran Khan was accused of not disclosing information on gifts presented to Toshakhana and the revenue received from the alleged sale of these gifts, which amounted to as much as 140 million Pakistani rupees ($635,000). He was found guilty of "corrupt practices" in the Toshakhana case and sentenced to three years in prison.
The case is also known as the Toshakhana reference case, where Mr. Khan was accused of earning $36 million from selling three watches gifted to him. He allegedly never deposited some gifts in the treasury, violating the rule as a Prime Minister in Pakistan is allowed to retain the gifts only after paying a certain amount..
The Political Implications
These developments could have significant implications for Pakistan's political scenario. With big leaders of Khan's party, PTI, either arrested or in trouble in different cases, the party may become weak in front of PMLN and PPT in the coming elections.
As the sword of arrest hangs over Bushra Bibi, and with Imran Khan already in jail, the future of PTI looks uncertain. The unfolding events will undoubtedly shape the political landscape of Pakistan in the run-up to next year's elections.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Posts
0 Comments