The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has officially withdrawn the new Toshakhana case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan from the Accountability Court.
At a recent press conference, Ali Johar Khaleel, Zonal Head of NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, announced that the case has been moved from the Accountability Court to the Special Judge Central. This change follows the reinstatement of NAB amendments, which, according to the NAB prosecutor, have placed the new Toshakhana reference outside NAB’s jurisdiction.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, argued that under the current legal framework, the new Toshakhana case does not qualify as a criminal offense. He maintained that the present laws do not support the case against Khan.
The NAB prosecutor confirmed this stance, noting that the reinstatement of NAB amendments has removed the case from NAB’s authority.
After a three-hour break during the hearing, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich decided to transfer the Toshakhana case to the Special Judge Central. The court has ruled that any bail applications related to this case will be handled by the appropriate court. A hearing for the case is scheduled for September 10.
In a related development, Imran Khan has sought relief in the 190 million pounds reference from the Accountability Court by invoking a recent Supreme Court decision on NAB amendments. Khan had previously challenged these amendments in the Supreme Court, which resulted in a favorable ruling for him. He is now using this ruling to request acquittal in the Accountability Court.
The court has postponed the hearing on Khan’s acquittal application until September 10.
