DST News: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been given fresh jail terms after being convicted in a corruption case linked to the alleged misuse of state gifts, further deepening the legal troubles of the jailed opposition leader.
A Pakistani court sentenced the couple to additional prison terms after finding them guilty of violating state gift regulations. The case centres on a luxury jewellery set gifted to Bushra Bibi by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an official visit in 2021.
According to the verdict, Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for criminal breach of trust and a further seven years for criminal misconduct, along with a substantial fine. The sentences will run concurrently with the prison terms he is already serving from earlier convictions, local media reported.
Khan has repeatedly dismissed the cases against him as politically driven. His lawyer, Salman Safdar, told the BBC that the defence team was informed of the sentencing late on Friday night, well after court hours, and plans to challenge the verdict in the high court.
“This judgement will be contested,” Safdar said, adding that the defence believes due legal process was not properly followed.
The latest ruling adds to a growing list of cases against the former cricket star-turned-politician, who has been in custody since August 2023. In January this year, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a separate corruption case.
Khan has faced more than 100 cases over the past two years, ranging from allegations of leaking state secrets to unlawfully selling gifts received during his time in office. The exact number of cases remains unclear, and the BBC has not independently verified the total.
The current case, widely known as Toshakhana 2, relates to a Bulgari jewellery set presented to Bushra Bibi during the 2021 Saudi visit. Under Pakistani law, gifts received by public officeholders must be deposited with the Toshakhana, the state treasury, although officials are allowed to repurchase items at a fixed valuation.
Prosecutors alleged that Khan arranged for the jewellery to be deliberately undervalued through a private firm, allowing it to be bought back at a fraction of its market price.
In addition to the prison sentences, the court imposed a fine exceeding 16 million Pakistani rupees (around £42,600) on the couple.
Khan was also convicted in an earlier Toshakhana-related case, though that sentence has been suspended pending the outcome of his appeal. Several other cases against him remain unresolved, including terrorism-related charges tied to violent protests that erupted on 9 May 2023 following his arrest.
Khan served as Pakistan’s prime minister until April 2022, when he was removed from office through a parliamentary no-confidence vote.
Although he has not appeared publicly since his detention, messages attributed to him continue to be posted on social media, often after meetings with lawyers or visitors. These posts have sharply criticised Pakistan’s current government and the powerful military establishment, particularly Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
In November, Khan was denied visitors for nearly a month. After pressure from his family and party, his sister was allowed to see him in early December. Hours later, a message appeared on his X account, credited to Khan, accusing the army chief of being a “mentally unstable person”.
Khan, now 73, has not been permitted any family visits since then. The judgement noted that the court showed leniency in sentencing due to his advanced age.
Editor’s note: This report reflects the updated legal status of Imran Khan’s earlier Toshakhana case, in which his sentence remains suspended pending appeal.
Source: BBC
