Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, while explaining the verdict in the Toshakhana 2 case, has said that the 17-year prison sentence given in this case will start after the completion of the sentence in the 190 million pound case. He said that according to the law, the continuity of sentences is clear and after the end of one sentence, the next one comes into effect.
In a statement, Atta Tarar said that the PTI founder will first have to complete the 14-year sentence, after which the 17-year sentence given in the Toshakhana 2 case will start. He termed the decision as fair and said that the value of the gifts was deliberately understated so that less money would be paid to the government treasury.
According to the Federal Information Minister, this matter is not just administrative negligence but falls under the category of regular financial irregularities and fraud. He said that by understating the value of the gifts, the state was caused a loss of crores of rupees and these gifts were kept for personal use.
Atta Tarar further said that Bushra Bibi also played an important role in this entire process, withheld the gifts and gained financial benefits from them. According to him, a total loss of Rs 30 million and Rs 70 million was caused to the state, for which the court imposed a severe sentence.
It should be noted that the Special Judge of the Accountability Court, Central Shahrukh Arjumand, delivered the verdict in the Tosha Khana II case in Adiala Jail, where the founder of PTI and Bushra Bibi themselves were present. The court sentenced both of them separately under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code to a total of 17 years in prison and a fine of Rs 16.4 million.
According to legal experts, the Toshakhana II case verdict marks a turning point in Pakistan’s accountability system. According to the former prosecutor general, “This verdict is an example of how betrayal of state trust is now being taken seriously, no matter how influential the accused.”
Political analysts say that the verdict will also have far-reaching implications for the country’s politics, especially at a time when the accountability process has been controversial.
