Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have prepared separate appeals to challenge the verdict announced against them in the Toshakhana-II case. The appeals will be filed in the Islamabad High Court.
According to the appeal documents, the trial court relied on the statement of Inamullah Shah, who had already been dismissed from service. The appellants argued that basing a conviction on the testimony of a dismissed witness is legally flawed. The appeals also challenge the court’s reliance on the statement of a prosecution approver, calling it contrary to law.
The petitions state that the prosecution failed to prove the case against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. The appeals, to be filed through Barrister Salman Safdar, seek the setting aside of the Toshakhana-II judgment.
The appellants argued that a person cannot be punished multiple times for the same offence. They also questioned the jurisdiction of the Special Central Court, maintaining that it did not have the legal authority to hear the case.
The appeals further claim that Sohaib Abbasi was illegally made a prosecution approver, rendering his testimony unreliable and unlawful.
According to the petitions, the Bulgari jewellery set at the centre of the case was retained by the former ruling couple in accordance with Toshakhana rules. The appellants maintained that the case was registered without proper investigation and was driven by political victimisation.
They also argued that the applicants do not fall within the legal definition of public servants, making proceedings against them under the relevant laws unlawful.
