Court warns of Bushra Bibi’s bail cancellation as lawyers absent

English , Pakistan - پاکستان , Snippets , / Thursday, October 31st, 2024

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An accountability court expressed strong displeasure over the absence of Bushra Bibi and her lawyers, stating that if this situation continues, the accused’s bail could be revoked and arrest warrants could be reissued. An accountability court hearing on the 190 million pound reference was held at Adiala Jail, presided over by Judge Nasir Javed Rana. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was present in the courtroom, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, was represented by assistant lawyer Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry. During the proceedings, Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry filed a request for Bushra Bibi to be exempted from attendance on medical grounds. However, the prosecution opposed this request, stating that neither Bushra Bibi nor her lawyers were present in court. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor pointed out that today’s hearing had been scheduled in the presence of the lawyers, who should have informed the court if they were occupied elsewhere. The prosecutor further noted that the exemption request lacked signatures from Bushra Bibi and her legal team, indicating that proper procedures had not been followed. “We do not insist that Bushra Bibi must attend every hearing, but if she does not wish to appear, she should appoint a representative,” the prosecutor stated. He also highlighted the absence of medical reports, asserting that Bushra Bibi was misusing her bail and recommended that a show-cause notice be issued against her. In response, the court expressed strong discontent over the absence of Bushra Bibi and her legal representatives, warning that if this behaviour continued, her bail could be revoked, and arrest warrants might be reissued. Due to the lack of legal representation, the cross-examination of the case’s investigating officer could not proceed, leading the court to postpone the hearing until the following day. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were charged in a fraud case at Islamabad’s Kohsar Police Station for allegedly creating fake receipts related to the sale of state gifts. The FIR includes charges against Khan, Bushra Bibi, Shahzad Akbar, Zulfi Bukhari, and Farah Gogi for offences linked to the fabrication of receipts and fraud. The complaint alleges that the accused submitted counterfeit receipts to facilitate the buying and selling of Toshakhana gifts, employing a forged signature for the supposed transaction. A local watch dealer, who filed the complaint, claims investigations revealed that the accused generated false receipts in his name, using forged letterhead from his shop to sell Toshakhana gifts. “The accused attempted to damage the reputation of my business by generating fake invoices for Toshakhana gifts,” the complainant stated in the FIR. This case stems from allegations that the former Prime Minister failed to disclose the details of gifts he retained from Toshakhana during his time in office. Lawmakers from the ruling coalition filed this case last year.