Toshakhana II Case: Bushra Bibi Refuses to Appear in Court, Judge Warns of Bail Cancellation

Rawalpindi:A dramatic turn occurred during the Toshakhana II case hearing inside Adiala Jail, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are facing charges related to the illegal retention of an expensive Bulgari jewelry set gifted by the Saudi Crown Prince.
The hearing, presided over by Special Central Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, witnessed the appearance of Imran Khan, while Bushra Bibi refused to attend the courtroom in protest. Jail authorities informed the court that she declined to appear, citing that she was denied a scheduled meeting with her husband on Tuesday.
Despite a three-and-a-half-hour wait, Bushra Bibi did not arrive, causing the court to postpone the testimonies of four witnesses. The judge expressed anger over her absence and warned that she is being given one last chance. If she fails to appear at the next hearing, her bail may be revoked.
During the hearing, the prosecution urged the court to cancel Bushra Bibi’s bail immediately and proceed with the case in her absence. However, the court decided to grant her one final opportunity, adjourning the hearing to June 3, 2025.
The Toshakhana II reference alleges that Bushra Bibi received a Bulgari jewelry set, including a necklace, ring, bracelet, and earrings, during a visit to Saudi Arabia from May 7 to 10, 2021. According to the reference, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi unlawfully retained the gifted set instead of depositing it in the Toshakhana.
The set was reportedly purchased by Bulgari from a franchise in Saudi Arabia—a necklace for €300,000 and earrings for €80,000. The total estimated value of the set is over PKR 75.6 million, with the necklace alone valued at PKR 56.4 million and the earrings at PKR 15 million. However, there was no pricing information available for the bracelet and ring.
NAB stated that under Toshakhana rules, the couple could retain the set by paying 50% of its estimated value, which would amount to PKR 35.7 million. However, they undervalued the set, causing a loss of approximately PKR 32.8 million to the national treasury.
The reference accuses Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi of violating sections 9(3), 9(4), 9(6), and 12 of the NAB Ordinance 1999, and misusing authority during Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister. NAB’s investigation, initiated after a board meeting on August 1, 2022, claims that Khan retained 58 out of 108 gifts received during his time in office.