Latest news with #ToshakhanaII
Express Tribune
a day ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Imran takes up reins of PTI ahead of protest
PTI founder Imran Khan, while announcing that the door for talks with the powerful stakeholders was still open, declared on Tuesday that a nationwide protest movement was now the party's only remaining option. While taking back full control of party affairs by becoming PTI's patron-in-chief, the former premier said that he would lead a nationwide protest movement from prison, declaring it the party's only remaining path after allegedly being shut out of political and legal avenues. The new patron-in-chief named Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, to coordinate the protest campaign, apparently sidelining Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who previously used to handle such responsibilities. The PTI supremo gave no timeline for the protest movement but said it would not be limited to Islamabad this time around. Khan once again clarified that his willingness to negotiate was only in Pakistan's broader interest, not for any personal relief. The announcements came through PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who met Khan at Adiala Jail during proceedings of the Toshakhana II case. Speaking to the media afterwards, PTI chairman said Khan believes that "all doors have been closed" on PTI and that a peaceful countrywide protest was now the only path forward. According to Gohar, Khan made it clear that he would head the protest movement himself, issuing all instructions through the NA opposition leader. Importantly, Gohar confirmed that this time the communication pertaining to the protest would not rely on Gandapur, who had previously been tasked with organising and leading such events. "For Ali Amin Khan Sahib," he said the instructions right now are: 'concentrate on the province and governance." "Different responsibilities will be assigned to different individuals," Gohar said, stressing that Khan has full trust in the party leadership and recognises the sacrifices made by many within the party ranks. In response to a question, he clarified that no date or time frame for the protest movement has been disclosed yet, saying Khan would determine the timing himself. To another question, Gohar confirmed that Khan has assumed the role of PTI's patron-in-chief, effectively reasserting full control over party decision-making. "From now on, all key decisions will be taken by the PTI founder," Gohar said, reiterating that he was the one who used to take all decisions before as well. "He was, is and will remain the leader forever," he said. Dismissing rumours about his own removal, Gohar insisted he remains the legitimate party chairman as long as Khan decides so, saying Khan was, is and will always remain the party supremo and he was only fulfilling duties until Khan was in jail. "These are just baseless rumours," he responded to the speculation, adding that some people were spreading rumours about his removal to create confusion. Gohar stressed that his own preference remains for dialogue over confrontation, saying he has always tried to resolve issues through negotiation and still wanted that. However, he added that Khan believes "no political path has been left open" for PTI, especially after what he described as alleged rigging in the recent Sambrial by-election on the heels of alleged mandate theft in the general elections.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Two witnesses record testimonies in gifts case
The Toshakhana is a repository which stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and other officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. PHOTO: FILE Two more prosecution witnesses on Tuesday gave their testimonies in a case related to alleged misuse of the official gift repository rules by PTI founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi during the former's term as the prime minister. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand conducted the hearing of the case in a courtroom inside Rawalpindi's Central Prison popularly known as Adiala Jail. Both Imran and Bushrawho are detained in the prison facility — attended the hearing. After the testimonies, the counsel for Imran, Arshad Tabriz, cross-examined both the witnesses. Lawyer of Bushra Bibi, Qosain Faisal Mufti, will cross examine the witnesses at the next hearing. Bushra Bibi had refused to attend the last hearing of the case — also called the Toshakhana II casedespite repeated summonses by the court. The judge had later warned of cancelling her bail in the case. The court will resume hearing on June 11. According to the charge-sheet, Imran misused his position to acquire a Bulgari jewelry set that the Saudi crown prince presented as a gift during the couple's visit to Saudi Arabia between May 7 and 10, 2021. The set included a ring, bracelet, necklace, and a pair of earrings. According to the evidence gathered during the investigation, Imran and Bushra unlawfully retained the set. On May 18, 2021, the deputy military secretary informed the section officer of Toshakhana about the need to assess and declare the price of the gift, but it was not deposited. Bulgari sold the necklace for 300,000 euros and the earrings for 80,000 euros to a Saudi franchise on May 25, 2018. However, the price of the bracelet and ring could not be determined. As of May 28, 2021, the total estimated value of the Bulgari jewelry set was approximately Rs75,661,600. The necklace alone was valued at Rs56,496,000, and the earrings at Rs15,065,600.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Nationwide protest movement planned: IK
RAWALPINDI: The incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman, Imran Khan on Saturday said his party will stage nationwide protest movement, vowing to lead the movement from behind the bars. Senator Ali Zafar, quoting Khan after a meeting at Adiala Jail during the hearing of Toshakhana II case against Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, said the former prime minister said that the center of upcoming protest movement of PTI will not be the federal capital but it will be take place across the country. 'Khan said that he and his party have been pushed to the wall, leaving them with no choice but to take to the streets', Zafer said while quoting his party's jailed founding chairman. He added that the PTI founder intends to lead the campaign personally from jail and will issue all related directives himself. He further said that he has been assigned the responsibility of drafting a complete protest strategy, which he plans to present at the next meeting with the party leader. The planning will be carried out in consultation with legal experts and the PTI leadership, he said. According to Senator Zafar, the upcoming campaign will be highly organised, well-prepared, and unlike any protest movement previously seen in Pakistan. He said that the party is aware that there will be obstacles but claimed they have the means and experience to overcome them. PTI nationwide protests: District administrations of twin citizens blocked multiple roads Zafar said that within a few days, a detailed plan for the protest movement would be finalised, and responsibilities would be assigned accordingly. He added that the founder believes the courts and executive authorities have failed to provide any relief, leaving the party with no remaining options. Earlier, the special court hearing Toshakhana II case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, adjourned proceedings without proceedings as Khan's wife refused to appeared before the court. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand, presiding over the case at Adiala Jail, adjourned the hearing after it was informed that Bushra Bibi declined to attend the proceedings, citing that she was denied a scheduled meeting with her husband on Tuesday. Despite the court issuing clear instructions to jail officials to bring her to the courtroom, she did not attend heairng. The judge waited for over three and a half hours, but Bushra Bibi remained absent. The authorities produce Khan before the court. Due to her non-appearance, statements of four prosecution witnesses could not be recorded. The court expressed displeasure over her refusal to appear, warning that if she fails to attend the next hearing, her bail may be revoked. The accused is being given one final opportunity, the judge remarked. Meanwhile, the prosecution requested the court to cancel Bushra Bibi's bail, arguing that the case should proceed in her absence. Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi asked the court to exercise its authority and continue proceedings without her presence. However, the judge granted Bushra Bibi one final chance and adjourned the hearing of the Toshakhana-II reference until June 3. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
13-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Toshakhana II case hearing cancelled
The Toshakhana is a repository which stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and other officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. PHOTO: FILE The scheduled hearing of the Toshakhana II case against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, set to take place in Adiala Jail on Monday (today), was once against cancelled. A new date will be announced, according to PTI founder's lawyer Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry. Chaudhry said on Sunday the court staff had informed the PTI lawyers the court would now convene at the Islamabad Judicial Complex, where the fresh hearing date would be set. The last hearing in the case was held on Feb 17. He remarked that the pace of legal proceedings against the PTI founder varied significantly. "Sometimes the cases are pushed forward at lightning speed, while at other times they proceed at a snail's pace," he said.
Express Tribune
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Omar Ayub urges judiciary to 'stand on its own two feet'
ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub has called on the judiciary to assert its independence, saying that "enough is enough" and urging anti-terrorism court judges to take a stand. Speaking at a news conference at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad on Monday, Omar Ayub was joined by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senator Shibli Faraz and lawyer Salman Akram Raja. The opposition leader slammed the judiciary's handling of cases involving PTI leaders, particularly the Toshakhana II case, which he claimed was delayed under dubious circumstances. "The judiciary must stand on its own feet and declare that this injustice has gone on for too long," he stressed. Omar condemned the continued isolation of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, saying that the detained PTI leaders – including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Hassan Niazi and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed – were all political prisoners and should be released immediately. "There is no rule of law in Pakistan," he said, adding that economic instability and investor reluctance stemmed from the country's lack of judicial independence. Challenging government ministers, Omar dared them to a debate on inflation, pointing out that electricity, flour, gas and sugar prices had soared while people's purchasing power had collapsed. He reiterated that Imran Khan was the country's rightful leader and should be given another chance as prime minister. Meanwhile, Salman Akram Raja accused the state of silencing those who could unify the country, pointing to widespread election fraud on February 8. He cited a report by PATTAN and a documentary that exposed election irregularities. He alleged that ballot boxes were tampered with at polling stations, Form 45 results were manipulated, and opposition agents were forcibly removed. Addressing the media, Barrister Gohar said that PTI wanted to highlight three key issues, stressing that the party had won a majority in the 2024 general elections, securing 180 National Assembly seats and a lead in Punjab. However, he alleged, the elections were rigged, and despite repeated demands, no judicial commission was formed, nor were any of PTI's 74 petitions heard in court.
