In its reference, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has accused Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi of retaining the jewellery set gifted to Ms Bibi by the Saudi royal family during their visit to the kingdom in May 2021. The reference said that the jewellery set comprises a ring, bracelet, necklace and earrings.

During the hearing, Barrister Salman Safdar representing Imran Khan argued that his clients were already convicted in an identical case; therefore, he could not be tried twice in the same matter.

The former prime minister and his wife were sentenced to 14 years in jail in January, only days before the general elections. The prosecution witnesses in the present case — related to a Bvlgari jewellery set — are the same who had testified against Mr Khan in the previous case, his counsel argued.

On the other side, the prosecution’s counsel argued that the jewellery set worth Rs71.5 million was retained by the couple for Rs2.9m only. He said that the FIA obtained the cost of the Bvlgari jewellery set from Saudi Arabia through the Foreign Office.

He prosecution counsel affirmed that the prosecution had strong evidence against Mr Khan and his spouse and requested that the court dismiss the bail petition.

After the arguments, the court briefly reserved the order and later dismissed both bail applications.