Bushra Bibi, wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was released from Adiala Jail on Thursday, a day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted her bail in a Toshakhana case. Her release ends nearly nine months of detention following her January 31 conviction in the case.
Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had been sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined Rs787 million each by an Islamabad accountability court in January, just ahead of the general elections. The Toshakhana case centers on the couple’s alleged retention of valuable gifts, including a Bvlgari jewelry set, given by foreign dignitaries at a fraction of their assessed value. The court also barred them from holding public office for 10 years.
Bushra Bibi had been held at Adiala Jail since her arrest alongside Imran Khan on July 13. Her detention came shortly after their acquittal in a separate Iddat case, and her release now marks a major legal development in the ongoing Toshakhana proceedings.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party welcomed her release, commending her resilience in the face of what they described as a “disgusting campaign” against her. PTI also praised her courage during the “illegal” time she spent in prison, calling her release a moment of victory for justice.
Bushra’s legal team, including Malik Tariq Mehmood Noon and Sohail Satti, posted the Rs1 million surety bond required for her release, as ordered by the IHC. Special Judge Shahrukh Arjumand issued her release orders, stating that Bushra Bibi should be freed unless wanted in other cases.
Meanwhile, the IHC also ordered the production of Imran Khan before the court on Thursday. The court instructed Adiala Jail authorities to arrange a virtual meeting between Khan and his lawyers, amid a ban on prisoner meetings imposed by the Punjab government due to security concerns.
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan of the IHC expressed frustration over the failure to allow meetings with Khan despite previous court orders. He emphasized that denying legal counsel access to prisoners is a violation of justice, instructing jail authorities to provide valid reasons for any further delay.
The Toshakhana case, originally investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and later transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has seen multiple legal twists. The case alleges that the former prime minister and his wife retained 58 out of 108 state gifts they received during Imran Khan’s tenure, undervaluing them by over Rs142 million.
Bushra Bibi’s release signals a significant moment in the high-profile case, as legal proceedings continue to unfold for both her and Imran Khan.