Ex-PM Imran Khan, Wife Jailed 17 Years in Pakistan Toshakhana Corruption Scandal

Ex-PM Imran Khan, Wife Jailed 17 Years in Pakistan Toshakhana Corruption Scandal

LAHORE, Pakistan – Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 17 years in prison each in a high-profile Toshakhana corruption case, the Pakistani court and Khan’s lawyers confirmed on Saturday.

The ruling, handed down by a special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), found Khan and Bushra guilty of criminal breach of trust and anti-corruption violations related to the under-priced purchase of luxury state gifts, including watches gifted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Prosecutors said the purchase caused the Pakistani state several million rupees in losses.

The sentence was divided into 10 years under Pakistan’s penal code for criminal breach of trust and 7 years under anti-corruption laws. The jail term from this verdict will begin after Khan completes a 14-year sentence in a separate land graft case, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.

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Khan, who has been in Pakistani custody since August 2023, faces dozens of ongoing cases ranging from corruption to anti-terrorism charges since his removal from office in 2022. Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), maintain that the prosecutions are politically motivated.

Khan’s lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umer, criticized the ruling, saying the court “announced the sentence without hearing the defence” and imposed “heavy fines.” Another lawyer, Salman Safdar, confirmed that Khan plans to appeal the decision at the Islamabad High Court.

Following the verdict, PTI announced protests across Punjab and criticized restrictions on legal and family visits to Khan, which authorities deny.

The case is one of multiple Toshakhana cases linked to Khan’s alleged misuse of state gifts, separate from an earlier conviction in August 2023. Khan and Bushra Bibi deny all wrongdoing, as the former cricket star turned politician continues to be a polarizing figure in Pakistan politics.

Ex-PM Imran Khan, Wife Jailed 17 Years in Pakistan Toshakhana Corruption Scandal

Reuters