NAB court approves 8-day remand of Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana case

An accountability court on Sunday approved an eight-day physical remand for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a fresh graft case.

This decision comes shortly after the couple was acquitted in the iddat or illegal marriage case, in which they were sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rs500,000 each for fraudulent nikah. The acquittal had briefly raised hopes of their release from prison. However, these hopes were quickly dashed when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested them in a new Toshakhana reference.

The NAB team headed by Deputy Director Mohsin Haroon arrested Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi from the Adiala Jail, the sources privy to the development added. The NAB team also recorded the initial statements from the PTI founder and his wife.

The acquittal was issued by Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, who nixed the couple's conviction based on a complaint by Khawar Maneka, Bushra's ex-husband. Maneka had moved the court against the couple's marriage, leading to their initial conviction.

Following their acquittal, a team from the anti-corruption watchdog, led by Deputy Director Mohsin Haroon, promptly arrested Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi at Adiala Jail. The new charges relate to the alleged "misuse of power for acquiring Toshakhana gifts," a reference to the valuable gifts received by government officials during foreign visits and kept in a state depository.

The couple's legal troubles have garnered significant attention, reflecting the ongoing political and judicial complexities in Pakistan. The new remand period will see further investigation into the allegations, while supporters and opponents of Imran Khan closely watch the developments.