[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed petitions filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife challenging the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) investigation into the Toshakhana gift repository case, noting that it cannot prevent the NAB from investigating the matter.
When a division bench of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Babar Sattar resumed hearings on the petitions challenging the top graft buster’s call-up notices on Wednesday, the NAB prosecution team asked the court to reject Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi’s petitions.
The top accountability watchdog also responded in writing.
It said Imran Khan during his term as the prime minister received around 108 gifts from foreign dignitaries. The former premier kept 58 of these gifts whose value was around Rs142,123,100 but Imran paid only Rs38,077,050 for these items.
Also Read: Bushra Bibi moves IHC against NAB in Toshakhana Case
It said NAB initiated an inquiry into this alleged misuse of the Toshakhana and sent calls-up notices along with questionnaires to seek information from the petitioner strictly in accordance with the law.
“[However], the petitioner instead of replying to the questionnaire annexed with the 1st call-up notice, submitted an evasive reply…The said reply cannot be termed to be a reply to the questions asked by the petitioner. Therefore, in the interest of justice, a 2nd call-up notice was issued.”
It stated that the petitioner’s claims were based on assumptions and conjectures, and that the NAB will conduct the investigation in accordance with the law. All actions will be carried out strictly in accordance with the law.
In light of the Supreme Court’s decisions and the law, Justice Aamer Farooq directed the NAB to issue notices to the petitioner. The bench later dismissed the petitions, noting that it could not prevent the graft buster from conducting an investigation.
Also Read: IHC has issued notice to NAB in Toshakhana investigation regarding Bushra Bibi’s plea.
The NAB can also take legal action against the petitioners [Imran Khan and his wife] if they do not cooperate with the investigation, according to the court.
On July 7, 2022, the NAB Executive Board Meeting (EBM) decided to authorise an Inquiry into the former prime minister’s alleged misuse of authority and criminal breach of trust, alleging that he illegally sold gifts presented by foreign dignitaries.
On August 5, 2022, NAB Rawalpindi authorised the investigation and sent call-up notices and questionnaires to Imran and his wife.
On March 30, Imran Khan filed a complaint with the IHC in response to these notices. On April 1, the former first lady also challenged the NAB notices issued to her on February 17 and March 16, asking the court to declare them illegal. She also asked the court to prevent NAB from turning the inquiry into an investigation until her application was decided.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also disqualified Imran as a lawmaker in October 2022, ruling that Imran had purchased gifts given by foreign dignitaries from the state gift depository but had failed to disclose the assets in declarations submitted to the commission.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
