By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested Tuesday on charges of inciting violence and attacking the military headquarters during a protest in May, as he and his wife faced indictment in a corruption case involving gifts from foreign leaders.
Khan, who led the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, is accused of keeping 58 out of 108 gifts he received from different heads of states during his tenure as the premier from 2018 to 2022.
The gifts included luxury cars, watches, and paintings, which he allegedly secured at “throwaway” prices, violating the rules of the state treasury.
An accountability court in Islamabad charged him and his wife, Bushra Bibi, with corruption and adjourned the case, known as the Toshakhana reference, until Jan. 11. The court summoned 12 witnesses to testify against the couple, including two senior army officers, a private appraiser, and officials from various departments.
The prosecution claimed that Bushra Bibi kept an exquisite and expensive jewelry set that she received as a gift, bypassing the state treasury. A private appraiser, Sohaib Abbasi, has turned approver against Khan.
Khan, who is being held at Adiala Jail, denied the charges and said he was being victimized for “reining in the powerful quarters.”
He said that some of the witnesses against him were insignificant, such as an office boy.
“Being the premier, I used no one else but the office boy […] how is that possible?” he asked reporters outside the court, adding that two persons, including an office boy, were made approvers against him.
Meanwhile, the police arrested the detained Khan in connection with the May 9 protests, which turned violent and resulted in the attack on the General Headquarters of the army.
An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi granted a two-day physical remand of Khan and directed the police to investigate him at Adiala Jail.
Another accountability judge, Mohammad Bashir dismissed the petitions of Khan seeking post-arrest bail in the Toshakhana reference and another corruption case involving 190 million pounds.
The court adjourned the proceedings in the latter case, known as the Al-Qadir Trust case, until Jan. 17. Khan and Bushra Bibi are likely to be indicted in this case on the same date.
The court also issued a written order regarding the attachment of the properties of property tycoon Malik Riaz, his son Ahmed Ali Riaz, and other accused in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
According to the order, six properties of Malik Riaz in Rawalpindi and 11 bank accounts in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were attached.
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