In a landmark verdict, a Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case. The judgment, delivered by Special Court Judge Shahrukh Arjumand at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, also imposed fines of ₹10 million on both.
The case revolves around alleged fraud in state gifts received from the Saudi government in 2021. Prosecutors claimed that Khan and Bushra Bibi retained an expensive Bulgari jewelry set, gifted by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit, after paying only a fraction of its estimated value of ₹80 million (PKR). Khan was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, with an additional seven years under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Bushra Bibi received a similar sentence.
The court reportedly took into account Khan’s age and the fact that Bushra Bibi is a woman when deciding on a relatively “lenient” punishment. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the judgment as a step toward accountability, stating that the former first couple had committed fraud by undervaluing and retaining the gifts for personal use.
Khan’s political party, Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), criticized the verdict, calling it a “kangaroo court” trial conducted in a closed-door jail session. PTI shared videos showing family members being denied entry to the jail, alleging the trial was neither free nor fair.
According to reports, Khan’s new sentence will run consecutively after his sentence in a separate £190 million corruption case concludes. The ruling marks a significant development in Pakistan’s ongoing legal and political battles, as the former premier faces multiple corruption-related convictions.
