ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s anti-corruption watchdog on Tuesday filed a fresh graft case against former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Khan, for illegally retaining a jewelry set from a state repository, local media reported.
The case, also called the new Toshakhana reference, came to the fore after the watchdog, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), arrested the couple following their acquittal in an illegal marriage case on July 13.
It pertains to a jewelry set, comprising a ring, bracelet, necklace a pair of earrings worth over €380,000, gifted to the former first lady by a foreign dignitary that was allegedly undervalued by the couple and retained against a lesser price.
The NAB reference, which consists of two volumes, was filed by investigation officer Mohsin Haroon and case officer Waqar Hassan in an accountability court, Pakistan’s Geo News channel reported.
“The fresh reference will now be reviewed by the registrar of the accountability courts,” the report read. “After removing the objections, the reference will be sent to the administrative judge.”
On Monday, an accountability court sent Khan and his wife to jail on a 15-day judicial remand in the new Toshakhana reference, after the couple appeared before the court following the expiry of their 10-day physical remand and submitted a written answer in response to a questionnaire by the accountability watchdog.
The ex-premier, who has been in jail since last August, was convicted in four cases. Two of the cases have since been suspended and he was acquitted in the remaining two, including the illegal marriage case.
Khan’s convictions had ruled the 71-year-old out of the February general elections as convicted felons cannot run for public office under the Pakistani law. Arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, Khan says the cases against him are “politically motivated,” aimed at keeping him from returning to power. Pakistani authorities deny this.
The ex-premier is also facing multiple cases relating to May 9, 2023 protests, which saw his supporters attack government and military installations over his brief arrest in a graft case.
In a separate development on Tuesday, an anti-terrorism court acquitted Khan’s wife in 12 cases relating to May 9, 2023 violence.
Pakistan accountability watchdog files fresh graft case against ex-PM Khan, wife
https://arab.news/82fuv
Pakistan accountability watchdog files fresh graft case against ex-PM Khan, wife
- Khan and his wife were arrested in the new case on July 13 after they were acquitted in the last of four cases they were convicted in
- The former premier says the cases against him are ‘politically motivated’ to keep him from returning to power, a charge authorities deny
IMF says has made ‘considerable progress’ as Pakistan funding talks continue
- Discussions covered the impact of the Middle East conflict on Pakistan, balance of payments and external financing needs
- Pakistan’s program implementation under a $7 billion program remained broadly aligned with authorities’ commitments, IMF says
KARACHI: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has made “considerable progress” in talks with Pakistan over its funding facilities, the Fund said late Wednesday, adding that discussions will continue in the coming days.
The IMF mission, led by Iva Petrova, had started talks with Pakistani officials on the third review of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) multi-year program and for the second review of the $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) from Feb. 25 to Mar. 11, according to the IMF.
The mission observed that Pakistan’s program implementation under the EFF remained broadly aligned with the authorities’ commitments through end-Feb., with both sides making progress on policies, including fiscal consolidation, a sufficiently tight monetary policy and advancing energy sector reforms.
“While considerable progress was made in the discussions, these will continue in the coming days, including to more fully assess the impact of recent global developments on Pakistan’s economy and the EFF-supported program,” the IMF quoted Petrova as saying.
Both EFF, secured in Sept. 2024, and the RSF, secured in May 2025, are key programs crucial for stabilizing Pakistan’s fragile economy. The IMF team was in the country to assess fiscal performance, energy-sector reforms, and external financing needs before approving the next disbursement.
The ongoing IMF engagement is seen as vital for Pakistan as geopolitical tensions and rising global oil prices pose renewed risks for its economic recovery.
The IMF mission observed that Islamabad paid “particular attention” to deepening structural reforms and made “good progress” in the implementation of their agenda to strengthen climate resilience, including through the completion of reform measures under the RSF.
“Discussions also covered the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on Pakistan’s economic outlook, the balance of payments and external financing needs amid volatile and rising energy prices and tighter global financial conditions,” Petrova said, adding:
“The IMF team and the authorities will continue these discussions with a view to conclude them in the coming days.”
