PTI rules out ‘deal’ behind Bushra Bibi’s release on bail in new Toshakhana case

ISLAMABAD, OCT 25 (DNA):Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Omar Ayub has categorically refuted rumours of any deal in relation to the release of party founder Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi.

Ayub, also the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, was addressing journalists in Sargodha on Friday, saying: “Bushra Bibi’s release is not part of any deal.”

He said that Imran’s wife was kept in wrongful confinement and “now she is in a safe place”. He further added that the Toshakhana case against the PTI founder was also false.

The politico’s statement comes a day after Bushra, whose incarceration continued at the Adiala jail in a separate Toshakhana-2 case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), was released from jail after spending around nine months behind bars.

She was initially held after being sentenced to 14 years in prison in January 2024 in the original Toshakhana case.

She was released a day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted her bail against surety bonds worth Rs1 million in the new Toshakhana case.

The former first lady was arrested after a court on January 31 convicted and sentenced the couple to 14 years in prison after finding them guilty of retaining and selling state gifts in violation of government rules (Toshakhana case) while Khan was in power.

Her release was expedited compared to the usual legal process, as typically, when a robkar (release order) is issued, the imprisoned person is released within two hours. However, Bushra Bibi was released in just 20 minutes.

Additional security forces were deployed at the jail to ensure the safe departure of Bushra Bibi after her release. However, the process went smoothly without any protest or notable presence of PTI. Bushra’s vehicle quickly exited through Gate No 5 of the jail and was driven towards Bani Gala.

Omar’s denial comes in reaction to the claims made by Senator Faisal Vawda who said the former first lady was released as “part of a deal”.

“Bushra Bibi is being freed 100% as part of a deal, and this is all part of the plan,” claimed Vawda, in an interview with a private TV channel on Thursday.

He had also accused senior PTI leaders of conspiring against Imran, stating, “The party leaders pushed Imran Khan into the fire.”

He added that key figures like Ali Amin Gandapur disappeared during critical moments.

The senator had also claimed that a majority of PTI members were siding with the government and deceiving the party’s founder. “They conspired against him, and Imran Khan knows they have sold out,” he had said, adding that Imran Khan’s jail meetings would begin on October 27.

Ayub, on the other hand, also reiterated the PTI’s stance to protest against the “stolen” February 8 elections. He added that the party would continue negotiations with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Meanwhile, the claims were also refuted by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan who said Bushra was released on merit and sided with the PTI founder’s ideology till her release.

Talking to the media, he said, had there been a deal, she would not have been in jail for so many months.

Gohar expressed optimism that the PTI founder would also be released soon, God willing, claiming his release would be on merit from the courts.