Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, has been sentenced to a 14-year jail term and prohibited from assuming any public office in connection with the Toshakhana case. Additionally, the couple has been fined with Rs 787 million Pakistani Rupees. This verdict comes hot on the heels of a separate ruling where Khan and former Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood were handed a 10-year prison sentence for divulging state secrets.
The Toshakhana case, which dates back to 2022, was instigated by lawmakers from the ruling party who alleged discrepancies in Khan's declarations to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the sale of state gifts. Initially, the ECP disqualified Khan, leading to subsequent criminal proceedings and his eventual conviction by a sessions court.
The crux of the case revolves around Khan's purported failure to disclose details about gifts received from the Toshaskhana, a repository for presents bestowed upon government officials by foreign dignitaries, during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. According to the rules governing the Toshakhana, recipients are obligated to report any gifts received to the Cabinet Division.
Allegedly, Khan accepted 58 gifts valued at over Rs 140 million from various world leaders during his tenure, retaining them without proper disclosure or payment.
Imran Khan's apprehension occurred on August 5, 2023, in Lahore following a district court's sentencing of him to three years in prison for the illicit sale of state gifts. This move potentially jeopardized Khan's prospects of participating in an upcoming election. Despite a temporary halt to the trial by Pakistan's High Court, the district court proceeded with the trial, which was initiated based on an investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the country's top anti-graft body. The arrest further exacerbated Khan's political standing, particularly after his fallout with Pakistan's influential military and the fragmentation of his political party.
