Islamabad – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 17 years in prison in a corruption case related to gifts received during his time in office. The ruling, delivered by a local court, marks the latest in a series of legal challenges for the ousted leader.
The court found Khan and his wife guilty of retaining state gifts and disposing of them for less than their actual value. The sentence includes 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under the Pakistan Penal Code for “breach of trust,” along with an additional 7 years under anti-corruption laws. Both Khan and Bibi were also fined 16.4 million rupees each.
This case is separate from a previous matter involving state gifts that led to Khan’s arrest in August 2023. The new conviction adds to the mounting legal pressure on Khan, who has been detained since then. He faces numerous charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets following his removal from office in 2022.
Khan has consistently denied all allegations against him, with his political party claiming the cases are politically motivated.
Rana Mudassar Umar, the Khan family’s lawyer, told Reuters that the court issued the verdict “without hearing the defense.” He added that the sentence included “17 years imprisonment with heavy fines.” He also noted a relative mitigation of the sentence, taking into account Imran Khan’s age.
Imran Khan, a former international cricket star, rose to prominence as a political figure in Pakistan, serving as Prime Minister from August 2018 to April 2022. He was removed from office following a no-confidence vote, becoming the first prime minister in the country’s history to be ousted in this manner. Earlier in 2024, he received prison sentences in other corruption cases. He and his wife are currently in custody.
