Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, has been released on bail after spending about nine months in prison. She was freed from Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail just a day after the Islamabad High Court granted her bail in a case related to state gifts, known as the Toshakhana case.
Bushra Bibi was arrested following a court conviction on January 31, where she and her husband were sentenced to 14 years in prison for improperly keeping and selling state gifts during Khan's time as prime minister. Her release came unusually fast; typically, it takes around two hours after a release order is issued, but she was out in just 20 minutes.
As she left the prison, media and PTI supporters were waiting to speak with her, but she quickly left without making any comments. Supporters celebrated her release by showering her car with flowers.
The case involves a set of jewelry gifted to Bushra Bibi by the Saudi crown prince during her husband's administration from 2018 to 2022. The jewelry set includes a ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings, which were not deposited in the Toshakhana, a government repository for state gifts. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) claims that the couple illegally kept the jewelry, which was valued at over Rs70 million.
According to NAB, the couple misused their positions, as Khan retained 58 out of 108 gifts during his premiership. The inquiry into their actions began in August 2022, and it is alleged that their actions caused a significant loss to the national treasury.