Malik Waqar
Bushra Bibi, the former first lady and wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, has refused to provide answers to police questioning during an investigation related to 20 protest cases.
Police teams arrived at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Bushra Bibi is currently held, to include her in the investigation regarding protests that were organised recently, Express News reported.
The teams of investigative officers, including Inspectors Afzal, Yaqub Shah, Rashid Kiyani, and others, questioned Bushra Bibi in the administrative block of the jail.
However, Bushra Bibi made it clear that she would not respond to the police inquiry until she consulted with her husband, Imran Khan, and her lawyer, Salman Safdar.
She stated that she required approval from them before she could provide a formal statement.
During a hearing on the 31 cases registered after November 26, Bushra Bibi was presented before Judge Amjad Ali Shah. She requested that she be allowed to meet with PTI founder Imran Khan and her lawyer to discuss her response to the police’s questions.
Bushra Bibi further requested that the consultation take place in the presence of her husband, Imran Khan, and her lawyer.
The court, following standard operating procedures (SOPs), ordered that Bushra Bibi be allowed to meet with her lawyer and Imran Khan before proceeding with the investigation.
The hearing is adjourned until March 7, 2025.
Last month, a local court in Islamabad dismissed three pre-arrest bail petitions filed by Bushra Bibi.
Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka heard the petitions on cases linked to the November 26 protests, Express News reported.
Prosecutor Iqbal Kakhar and defence counsel Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry appeared in court during the proceedings.
Bushra Bibi’s lawyer submitted an application seeking exemption from appearance.
The prosecutor argued that Bushra Bibi failed to submit surety bonds as required. The judge expressed concern, stating, “You have not yet submitted the surety bonds. You are not complying with the court’s orders.”
Defence counsel Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry responded that Bushra Bibi had to appear in court for a decision on the £90 million reference and was required to visit Adiala Jail.
Judge Majoka subsequently dismissed the bail pleas, noting that the interim bail previously granted to Bushra Bibi was valid only until the date of the hearing. The cases against her stem from her alleged involvement in protests held on November 26.
