Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, faced their third conviction since 2022, receiving a 14-year prison sentence on corruption charges. It is linked to the Toshakhana case, accusing the couple of retaining and selling state gifts from Khan's prime ministerial term.
However both Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have strongly denied the claims from Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog, stating they didn't sell or keep state gifts for personal gain. This included a jewellery set from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
A day earlier on Tuesday, Imran Khan had been found guilty of leaking state confidential documents, resulting in a separate 10-year prison sentence. Both the two sentences will likely run concurrently, although confirmation is pending. He took to his X account and told his followers on Tuesday to "take revenge for every injustice with your vote on February 8 while remaining peaceful"
Additionally, the court has ordered the couple to pay a fine of approximately 1.5 billion rupees (£4.2m; $5.3m). Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has confirmed that Imran is being barred from engaging in future political activities and holding public office for 10-year.
PTI criticised the Trials
Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), criticised the trials as "kangaroo courts", calling the cases against Khan as baseless and rushed proceedings.
The Party accused Wednesday's case as "another sad day in our judicial system history,". Also accusing the judiciary of being "dismantled." Allegations included no cross-questioning, incomplete final arguments, and a predetermined decision.
Imran Khan’s Lawyers
Babar Awan, lawyer of Imran Khan, expressed concerns about the rushed nature of the conviction, emphasised he was not given a fair chance to defend himself in a trial
He also accused the violations of Khan's basic human and fundamental rights. Khan's legal team has announced their intention to appeal both cases to Pakistan's High Court.
Pakistan Elections 2024
The sentencing comes just a week before Pakistan's parliamentary elections, as Pakistan is going to Elections on February 8. Although Imran has been barred from running, he remains popular among voters. Experts are concerned about the significance of the timing of these convictions, raising questions about the fairness of the legal proceedings.
Imran Khan's party PTI is facing challenges, including the imprisonment of senior leaders and restrictions are being imposed on their campaigning. The party's candidates are running as independents, and several are in hiding. After protests erupted, some violent, following Khan's arrest in May, thousands of the party's supporters were detained. Additionally, the party has lost its cricket bat symbol, crucial in a country with low literacy rates, as it helps voters mark their ballots.
Three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is emerging as a prominent figure in the upcoming elections. There is a growing belief that the Pakistan military establishment currently favors someone else, while Imran Khan, who was once considered close to the military, has lost their support.
Imran Khan, been in custody since last August, predominantly serving time at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, has consistently claimed that the charges against him are politically motivated, accusing the military of orchestrating his imprisonment. His wife, Bushra Bibi, who had been on remand, surrendered at the jail on Wednesday. Known for maintaining a low profile during their time in office, the couple got married in 2018, just months before Imran Khan's election as prime minister.
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