Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has sent a questionnaire to Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister and current Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, as part of an investigation into the Toshakhana case. The anti-corruption watchdog’s 12 questions relate to the sale receipts of gifts received from Toshakhana. They seek details of which items were sold, who purchased them, whether middlemen or women were involved, when they were sold, and whether the proceeds were deposited in a bank account or taken as cash. NAB also requested photos of the gifts as evidence. The case involves the alleged sale of gifts received by Imran Khan during his tenure as Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrant has been suspended until April 18 in a judge intimidation case. Imran’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, cited security concerns and requested the suspension. Advocate Ali Bukhari echoed his sentiments, saying that the warrants were issued incorrectly and should have been bailable first.
In a separate case, the Islamabad High Court has reserved its verdict on the admissibility of a petition seeking Imran’s disqualification for allegedly concealing his daughter, Tyrian White, in his election papers. Last year, Mohammad Sajid filed a plea claiming that Imran failed to disclose arrangements he had made for Tyrian’s upkeep in the UK in his nomination papers. Imran submitted his response to the IHC on February 1, asking the court to dismiss the petition. The IHC had decided to constitute a larger bench to hear the petition and had emphasised the importance of arguments on the plea’s maintainability. It was to have decided on the petition’s maintainability on March 21 but adjourned the hearing until March 30, directing Imran’s counsel to conclude his arguments on its maintainability.
The Toshakhana case has become a major point of contention in Pakistan’s national politics. Last month, the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified Imran Khan for making false statements and incorrect declarations in relation to it. The Commission found that the former Prime Minister had indulged in corrupt practices under sections 167 and 173 of the constitution and announced that a criminal proceeding would be initiated against him for filing a false statement. Imran Khan has purchased gifts from Toshakhana, paying Rs21.564 million, while the Cabinet Division said the gifts had a value of Rs107.943 million.
