Imran Khan’s jail expense jumps to Rs700,000 a month after Bushra Bibi’s imprisonment

A spike has been reported in incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s expenses at the Adiala Jail since after his wife and former first lady Bushra Bibi was also locked up in the Al-Qadir Trust case last month.

According to reports, the total cost of Khan’s meals and other expenses has jumped from Rs400,000-500,000 to Rs700,000 with jailed Bushra adding Rs200,000 to it.

The expenses, including food, are being borne by former prime minister’s (PM) family, reports said and added that these included the customized breakfast, lunch and dinner menus set by Khan himself.

Reports also quoted sources as saying that the incarcerated couple’s meals were prepared in a separate kitchen.

On Khan’s dietary habits, reports quoted sources as saying that he preferred fresh juice and fruits in breakfast, three coffees a day, and all his meals were checked by nutritionists. Moreover, he regularly has pink salmon as well as desi chicken broth.

It merits a mention that Bushra joined Khan in jail as legal woes of the former premier continued with a rigorous imprisonment sentence in the Toshakhana reference last month.

The Toshakhana – state gifts storehouse – has been under a microscope ever since the emergence of the allegations that Khan purchased the gifts he received as PM at throwaway rates and sold them off in the open market for staggering profits.

Accountability court’s Judge Muhammad Bashir announced the verdict in January, also disqualifying Khan for 10 years while handing over a fine of Rs1.57 billion — Rs787 million each — to the couple. 

Khan told the court that his wife had nothing to do with the case and was being humiliated by forcibly being dragged into it.

Following the verdict, Bushra, who was not present in court when the sentence was announced, arrived at the Adiala Jail and surrendered before the authorities.

NAB had filed the reference against the duo for unlawfully taking a Rs1.57 billion jewelry set, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and a ring, from the Toshakhana. Khan and Bushra had only paid Rs9 million for the set and had fixed the price of the jewelry set through a private firm.