Pakistan Court Sentences Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi to 17 Years in Corruption Case

A special court in Pakistan on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of imprisonment each in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case, adding to Khan’s mounting legal troubles.

The verdict was delivered by a special judge during proceedings held inside Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023. The case relates to an expensive Bulgari jewellery set gifted to Khan by the Saudi Crown Prince during an official visit in May 2021, which prosecutors said was later purchased at a price far below its assessed value.

The court sentenced the couple to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, along with an additional seven years under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Both were also fined Rs 16.4 million each.

According to the written verdict, the court said it took into account Imran Khan’s age and Bushra Bibi’s gender while awarding what it described as a comparatively lenient punishment.

Khan’s legal team announced plans to challenge the conviction in the High Court, maintaining that the case is politically motivated. Both Khan and Bushra Bibi have consistently denied wrongdoing, calling the charges fabricated and aimed at sidelining him from politics.

Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, is already serving a 14-year sentence in a separate £190 million corruption case and faces additional trials under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act linked to the May 9, 2023 protests. Bushra Bibi is also serving a seven-year sentence in the same corruption matter.

The latest conviction comes amid growing international scrutiny over Khan’s incarceration conditions. The United Nations has previously called for an end to his solitary confinement. Earlier this week, Khan’s sons alleged that he has been held in isolation for nearly two years, raising concerns over his health and treatment in custody.