An Accountability Court on Monday extended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi’s physical remand by 10 days in the new Toshakhana reference filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recently.
The NAB team presented the couple before the court after the expiry of their previous seven-day remand and sought a 14-day remand of both accused, but the court granted the remand till August 8.
Heated exchange
During the court hearing, a heated exchange took place between NAB Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi and Imran Khan.
As the hearing began, Bushra Bibi joined Imran on the rostrum and said she would not mind any judgment of the court as it was clear that the court was not taking into account the “injustice done by the anti-graft body.”
“Despite the lack of proof, the NAB has been filing one false case after another, and courts keep granting physical remands,” she said.
At this point, the PTI founder joined the conversation, apprising the court that his spouse had no connection with the state gifts, and “should not be dragged in this case.”
“I was the prime minister, but my wife was not in any public office,” he said.
Imran went on to allege that NAB officials could lodge reference against anyone when paid for it.
This enraged the NAB prosecutor, leading to a bitter exchange of words between the two.
“Don’t get personal with me, let’s discuss the case. I have never talked about your personal life,” Abbas said.
Background
Imran has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail since August last year upon his conviction in several cases.
Over the past few months, the PTI founder has been acquitted in several cases, including the cipher trial, the Toshakhana references and the Iddat case. However, he and his spouse are still jailed in the new Toshakhana reference.
This is the third time the accountability court has granted physical remand of the PTI founder. The couple was arrested in the new reference from Adiala Jail on July 13 - a day after an Islamabad district and sessions court accepted the couple’s bail in the Iddat case.
On July 15, the court approved an 8-day physical remand of the couple, followed by another 7-day remand on July 22.
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