Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in connection with an ongoing graft case, local news channel ARY News reported. The warrant raises the possibility of her rearrest just two months after she was released from jail on bail.
Bushra Bibi, often referred to respectfully by her title, had been detained for nine months before her release in October. The case pertains to allegations that she and her husband illegally sold state gifts worth over 140 million rupees during Khan’s tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. Both have denied the charges.
Background on the Case
The charges stem from accusations that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi sold state-owned gifts received by the former prime minister during his term, gifts which by law should have remained in state possession. Khan is already in custody pending trial in related cases.
In October, following her release, Bushra Bibi was at the forefront of massive protests organized by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, demanding Khan’s release. The demonstrations turned violent, with the party claiming that hundreds of supporters were injured, and nearly a dozen killed. However, the government has denied these allegations, asserting that no deaths occurred during the protests.
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Amid the unrest, Bushra Bibi fled to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a PTI stronghold, after security forces cracked down on demonstrators in Islamabad. The fresh warrant issued by the Islamabad court on Thursday allows the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s anti-corruption watchdog, to pursue her arrest across the country.
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This development adds to the ongoing political turmoil surrounding Imran Khan, his family, and the PTI party, as the country grapples with deepening economic and political challenges.
