Former first lady and wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi was released from Adiala Jail on Thursday, following the Islamabad High Court’s decision to grant her bail in the Toshakhana 2 case.
The release was secured after the submission of bail bonds worth Rs1 million by her guarantor Malik Tariq Mehmood Noon.
The Islamabad Accountability Court, led by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand, signed Bushra Bibi's release order. Her legal team, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, confirmed that she had left the jail for Bani Gala, accompanied by her security detail.
In a brief statement to the media, Barrister Gohar expressed optimism that Bushra Bibi would not face further arrests. "There is no need to arrest Bushra Bibi in any case," he stated.
High court grants bail
The Islamabad High Court, under Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, had granted bail to Bushra Bibi on October 23, 2024. The court required two surety bonds of Rs1 million each for her release.
During the hearing, Justice Aurangzeb remarked on the complexity of determining the value of Tosha Khana gifts, emphasizing that auction processes are needed to accurately assess their worth.
Justice Aurangzeb further questioned the rationale behind implicating Bushra Bibi, drawing a comparison with the case of Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa, where a similar situation arose involving a spouse's actions.
Delayed release
While the High Court granted bail on October 23, Bushra Bibi's release from Adiala Jail was delayed due to procedural issues related to the submission of bail bonds.
Her release was blocked multiple times due to incorrect documentation, causing her to remain in custody until Wednesday afternoon.
Background of case
The Tosha Khana 2 case stems from allegations of illegal retention and sale of valuable gifts received by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi during official foreign trips. These gifts, which reportedly include luxury watches, were allegedly sold without following proper procedures.
On September 12, 2024, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the matter. The case was originally under the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), but following the Supreme Court’s ruling on NAB amendments, the case was transferred to FIA for further investigation.
The case has garnered significant attention since July 2024, when NAB arrested both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi shortly after they were granted bail in another case involving their marriage during Iddat.