Media: Imran Khan granted post-arrest bail in Toshakhana case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted post-arrest bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in connection with the controversial Toshakhana case.

Presided over by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, the court accepted Imran’s petition on November 19, allowing his release subject to the submission of bail bonds amounting to Rs 1 million ($3,611), along with two sureties of the same amount, Caliber.Az reports per Pakistani newspaper Dawn.

The bail is contingent on the satisfaction of the trial court, which will oversee further proceedings.

The court also issued a cautionary warning, stating that Imran must not misuse the concession of bail and must attend all hearings unless explicitly exempted by the trial court. The order made it clear that any failure to comply could result in the recall of the bail.

Despite this development, Imran Khan's release is not imminent, as he faces several other cases for which bail has not yet been granted.

Notably, the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected a plea from his legal team for pre-arrest bail in related cases earlier on the same day. Imran, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, was arrested in July 2023 following allegations in the Toshakhana case, which accuses the couple of retaining luxury gifts, including a Bulgari jewellery set, at a significantly undervalued price.

While Bushra Bibi was granted bail last month, Imran has remained incarcerated since his arrest in August 2023. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) alleges that the couple received a total of 108 gifts during Imran’s tenure as prime minister, of which 58 were allegedly retained against a valuation of Rs 142 million.

During the court hearing, Imran’s lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, argued that the gifts were retained under the Toshakhana policy, with values assessed by customs officials. FIA prosecutor Umair Majeed Malik countered, claiming that undervaluation of the gifts had caused significant damage to the state.

The case continues to unfold, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev