The judgment has further compounded the legal difficulties facing former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who continues to remain incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where he has been held since August 2023 in connection with multiple corruption and anti-terrorism cases.
On Saturday, a special court in Pakistan sentenced Imran Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of imprisonment each in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case. The ruling represents another major blow to the former premier, who has already been convicted in other high-profile cases.
The case revolves around a luxury Bulgari jewellery set that was presented to Imran Khan by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021. Investigators alleged that the gift was later purchased by Khan at a price far below its assessed market value, amounting to criminal breach of trust and corruption.
The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during proceedings held inside Adiala jail, where Imran Khan is currently lodged. The court sentenced both Khan and Bushra Bibi to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, in addition to seven years under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Along with the prison terms, the court also imposed a monetary fine of Rs 16.4 million on each of the accused. In its written order, the court noted that it had taken into account Imran Khan’s advanced age and Bushra Bibi’s status as a woman, stating that these factors influenced its decision to award comparatively lenient punishment.
Following the announcement of the sentence, lawyers representing Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi rejected the ruling and said they would challenge it before the High Court. The couple has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that the case was fabricated and politically motivated to sideline Khan from public life.
Imran Khan has been behind bars since August 2023 and is already serving a 14-year sentence in a separate corruption case involving £190 million. He also faces multiple pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the violent protests that erupted on May 9, 2023. Bushra Bibi is similarly serving a seven-year sentence in the same corruption case.
The latest conviction comes amid increasing domestic and international criticism of the Pakistani authorities over Khan’s treatment in custody. The United Nations has previously expressed concern and called for his immediate release from solitary confinement.
Adding to the controversy, Khan’s sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Isa Khan, recently made public allegations about their father’s jail conditions. They claimed that Imran Khan has been kept in solitary confinement for nearly two years and voiced fears that they may never see him again, intensifying scrutiny of the government’s handling of the former prime minister.
