Imran Khan, wife Bushra challenge Toshakhana case

Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on Monday filed separate appeals in a high court, challenging their 17-year prison sentences in the Toshakhana-2 case. A special court on December 20 sentenced them to 17 years imprisonment each in the corruption case based on allegations that they sold expensive state gifts by buying cheaply from Toshakhana — the state gift repository.

The two filed appeals in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), contending that the conviction was politically motivated and pleaded for the undoing of the same. They also contended that the methodology adopted by the Federal Investigation Agency, the prosecuting body, was devoid of “heightened care and caution”. “Instead, both the investigating agency and the Trial Court proceeded in a cursory manner. This is evident from the absence of any FIR (first information report) on the record,” read their appeal.