ISLAMABAD: An accountability court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Bushra Bibi over her continuous absence in the 190 million pounds corruption case.
The decision was announced on Friday after she failed to appear for the hearing.
On the same day, a judge issued the release order for Ms Bibi’s spouse, former prime minister Imran Khan, in the second Toshakhana case.
The warrant was issued after the judge dismissed an application for her exemption from attendance on medical grounds.
Judge cites former first lady’s persistent absence; KP CM declared proclaimed offender
The judge emphasised her repeated absences and said she needed to attend court proceedings.
Bushra Bibi’s non-compliance with summons “reflects a lack of commitment to the judicial process”.
“Consequently, the warrant was issued to ensure her attendance in upcoming hearings,” said the order.
Later, the hearing was adjourned till Nov 26, with the judge reiterating the necessity of her appearance.
Imran’s release order
Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand issued orders to release former premier Khan, two days after he was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The release order was issued after Mr Khan’s legal team submitted surety bonds worth Rs2 million, set as condition for bail by the court.
Despite the order, the PTI founder won’t be released as the Rawalpindi police had recently arrested him on terrorism charges in a case related to a protest in September.
On Friday, a police team from Rawalpindi investigated the former PM for more than three hours at the Adiala Jail, a day after a court remanded his custody to the New Town police for five days.
His cell has been declared a ‘police station’ to be guarded by the personnel of Rawalpindi police on three shifts.
FIA’s petition
In a related development, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed a petition with the IHC to cancel Bushra Bibi’s bail in the second Toshakhana case.
The former first lady and her husband have been accused of purchasing an expensive Bulgari Jewelry set — gifted by a foreign government — at a throwaway price.
The FIA has argued that Ms Bibi has repeatedly failed to appear for hearings since the bail was granted.
KP CM declared offender
Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court declared Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur a proclaimed offender in a case registered at the I-9 police station of Islamabad.
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra also issued Mr Gandapur’s non-bailable arrest warrants due to his persistent absence from proceedings.
In his written order, the judge stated that charges against the KP CM had been separated from the other accused and ordered his arrest “without any delay”.
The court also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for other political leaders, including Raja Rashid Hafeez, Wasiq Qayyum, Raja Khurram Nawaz, Faisal Javed and Omar Tanveer, who also failed to appear before the court.
The same court delivered its verdict on a case registered at the I-9 police station over May 9 protests. The court acquitted all PTI workers booked under terrorism charges.
The judgement noted that the accusations of terrorism against the accused could not be substantiated.
The court emphasised that no solid evidence had been presented to link the accused directly to terrorist activities, leading to their acquittal.
Mohammad Asghar in Rawalpindi also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, November 23th, 2024
