The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reinstated the bail rights of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced this verdict, which was previously reserved. The decision significantly developed in the ongoing legal proceedings involving the former Prime Minister.
The High Court dismissed Imran Khan’s petition seeking bail in the £190 million settlement case. The rationale for this dismissal was that Khan had already been arrested in this case.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had previously objected to Khan’s plea for reinstating his bail applications in both the Toshakhana investigation and the £190 million scam case, highlighting the complexities surrounding these high-profile legal battles.
Legal Proceedings and NAB’s Involvement
An accountability court initially dismissed Imran Khan’s bail application due to his absence, which he attributed to his arrest at the time. The IHC bench, led by Justice Farooq and including Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, heard his petition against this dismissal. Despite arguments from the Deputy NAB Prosecutor General that bail applications cannot be restored under the NAB Ordinance, the court proceeded with its decision.
Imran Khan was arrested by a NAB Rawalpindi team, led by Assistant Director Waqarul Hasan, in connection with the Toshakhana and £190 million corruption cases. Following the arrest, the government approved a request for Imran’s in-prison trial regarding the £190 million settlement case. However, an accountability court later rejected NAB’s request for a 10-day physical remand of Khan in this case, opting instead for judicial remand.
This series of legal developments underscores the ongoing tension between PTI and the state’s accountability mechanisms, as Imran Khan faces multiple allegations and court proceedings.”
