The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued an order on Wednesday, directing the transfer of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, from the Bani Gala sub-jail to the Adiala jail.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC announced the verdict, which was reserved following a petition filed by Bushra Bibi seeking her transfer to Adiala jail, where her husband is presently incarcerated.
On May 2, the high court had reserved the verdict after hearing arguments. The jail superintendent had conveyed the inability to accommodate Bushra Bibi due to overcrowding and security concerns.
The court also declared the notification designating Bushra Bibi’s residence in Bani Gala as a sub-jail as “null and void”.
Bushra Bibi was placed under house arrest at her Bani Gala residence on January 31, following her conviction in the Toshakhana case. The authorities had designated the Bani Gala residence as a “sub-jail” at the request of the Adiala jail superintendent.
On February 6, Bushra challenged the authorities’ decision to confine her at Bani Gala to serve a 14-year sentence in the case.
In her petition, Khan’s wife asserted her willingness to serve her sentence in the “Ordinary Jail Premises at Adiala Jail”, rather than the declared sub-jail at her residence.
Furthermore, she expressed feeling “unsafe” being confined alone at the sub-jail due to potential security risks.
Bushra, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, argued that the “special treatment” contradicted the constitutional guarantee of equality and amounted to discrimination.
Based on these grounds, the petitioner urged the court to annul the notification declaring her house a sub-jail and relocate her to Adiala jail in the “interest of justice”.
Bushra and Khan were both sentenced to a 14-year prison term each by accountability court Judge Muhammad Bashir in the Toshakhana case.
The court also disqualified the former prime minister from holding public office for 10 years and imposed a fine of Rs1.57 billion on the couple.
Khan informed the court that his wife had no involvement in the case and was being unjustly implicated.
The Toshakhana case revolves around allegations of the illegal sale of state gifts. Under Toshakhana rules, officials can retain low-value gifts but must pay a reduced fee for extravagant items.
The case came under scrutiny after claims emerged that Khan had purchased gifts received as prime minister at low rates and sold them for substantial profits.
Among the items were watches from a royal family, including a “Master Graff limited edition” valued at 85 million Pakistani rupees ($385,000).
Following a reference by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, the Election Commission investigated the matter and declared Khan guilty of corrupt practices in October 2022.
Subsequently, a complaint was filed in an Islamabad court against the former premier.
