Imran is granted bail by IHC in the Toshakhana case.

In a recent Toshakhana case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday granted bail to former premier Imran Khan, who is now in jail.

Imran’s bail appeal was heard today by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC, who accepted the case on the condition that two bonds of Rs 1 million each be provided. In addition, the judge warned that if Imran did not comply with the court during the trial, the release might be revoked and ordered the PTI founder to appear before the trial court after being granted bail.

After being acquitted in the Iddat case that same day, Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were arrested in the case on July 13.

The PTI founder has been detained since his arrest on August 5 of last year in a different Toshakhana case, although Bushra Bibi was released from jail last month after obtaining bail in the case from the IHC.

In the latest instance, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) accused the pair of keeping a costly set of Bulgari jewellery, which included rings, bracelets, earrings, and a necklace, that was given to them by a foreign leader at a discounted price. The FIA claimed that this resulted in a substantial loss for the exchequer.

The indictment of the pair in the case was scheduled for October 2 by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand in September. However, due to the defence counsel’s plea for further time, it was postponed until October 5. Judge Arjumand had denied their post-arrest bail requests the day before.

Bushra was released from Adiala Jail on October 24, one day after the IHC granted her bail request in the case.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has accused Imran and his spouse of unlawfully keeping the jewellery set that the Saudi royal family gave Bushra during their May 2021 visit to the country, according to a reference submitted to the court.

The anti-graft watchdog also said in its reference that Imran and his spouse had received 108 gifts from various international dignitaries and heads of state when he was prime minister.

They allegedly kept 58 of the items, worth an estimated Rs142 million less than their true value. The reference stated, “The accused individuals kept 58 gift boxes/sets out of these 108 gifts, against an appraiser-estimated undervaluation of Rs142.1 million.”

The case was moved from an accountability court to an FIA special court after the Supreme Court confirmed changes to NAB legislation in September.