- Police say the officials arrived at Adiala jail on Wednesday evening.
- Imran was officially “arrested” by the Pindi police during the September 27 protest.
- The FIR also names several other PTI leaders, including CM Gandapur.
Hours after incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was granted bail in the new Toshakhana case, Rawalpindi Police have detained the former prime minister in a new case filed at the police station New Town Police Department.
The PTI founder is not wanted in any other case under Islamabad jurisdiction after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday approved his bail application in the Toshakhana 2.0 case. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC accepted Imran’s bail plea against two sureties worth Rs 1 million each.
In a new development on Wednesday evening, the police spokesperson said that a team of investigators from Rawalpindi Police led by SSP Investigation arrived at Adiala Jail and formally “arrested” the former Prime Minister.
An anti-terrorism court will hear the case at Adiala jail, the Rawalpindi police spokesperson said, adding that the police team will request the court to grant Imran’s remand.
An FIR (first information report) was lodged at the New Town police station against Imran in connection with the PTI protest on September 27 this year.
A fresh case has been registered against him for allegations of abetting arson and causing damage to property. The case was filed under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI leaders including Seemabia Tahir, Amir Mughar and Aliya Hamza were booked as co-accused along with the PTI founder.
Five suspects – Khalil, Imran, Sadaqat, Yaseen and Tahir – were arrested from the spot, according to the FIR, which also states that a petrol bottle was recovered from suspect Tahir’s possession.
The charges included terrorism, attempted murder, vandalism, destruction of public and state property and interference in government operations, the FIR said.
The FIR filed on September 28 said the participants caused trouble, obstructed public access by burning tires and caused hardship to citizens.
The FIR claims that PTI leaders and activists raised anti-government slogans, pelted stones at police and attacked with iron rods during the protest.
Several police vehicles, including that of SP Rawal, were damaged and a policeman was seriously injured in the eye by a window, the FIR said, adding that the accused seized government firearms and fired them in the air, causing panic.
Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were arrested in the case on July 13, soon after the former couple were acquitted by a district and sessions court in Islamabad in the iddat case – also known as the Un-Islamic Nikah Affair.
The former first lady was released from prison last month in the Toshakhana 2.0 case after spending about nine months behind bars.
Their case has already been heard by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) tribunal. However, it was transferred to the FIA following the Supreme Court verdict reinstating the amendments to the anti-corruption laws.
Toshakhana 2.0
The reference filed by NAB related to a jewelry set gifted to Bushra by the Saudi royal family when her husband Imran was the country’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022.
The anti-corruption watchdog further claimed that during his tenure as prime minister, Imran and his wife received a total of 108 gifts from different heads of state and foreign dignitaries.
The anti-corruption watchdog claimed the former first lady received the jewelry set – including a ring, bracelet, necklace and a pair of earrings – during her visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2021. He said the PTI founder and his wife were illegally holding the jewelry. together.
The reference states that the deputy military secretary asked the Toshakhana section officer to estimate and declare the price of the jewelry set, which she said had not been deposited in Toshakhana.
The jewelry company sold the necklace for €300,000 and the earrings for €80,000 on May 25, 2018. Information regarding the price of the bracelet and ring could not be obtained from the company.
On May 28, 2021, the price of the set was estimated at Rs70.56 million; the price of the necklace was Rs50.64 million and the price of the earrings included in the jewelry was then estimated at Rs10.50 million.
According to the rules, the 50% price of the jewelry set is around Rs35.28 million. The state exchequer suffered a loss of around Rs35.28 million after the undervaluation of the jewelry.