Pakistan court sentences Imran Khan and wife to 17 years each in fresh corruption case
A Pakistani court has sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison each in a corruption case involving the underpriced purchase of luxury state gifts, according to the court and Khan’s legal team.
The ruling, delivered on Saturday in Lahore, adds to Khan’s growing list of convictions. He has been in jail since August 2023 and is already serving a 14 year sentence in a separate land graft case. Under the latest decision, his new sentence will begin only after the completion of that earlier term, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.
Khan faces dozens of cases filed since his removal from office in 2022, ranging from corruption and state secrets to anti terrorism charges. He has denied wrongdoing in all cases, while his party maintains the prosecutions are politically motivated.
Imran Khan
“The court announced the verdict without hearing the defence and handed down 17 years of imprisonment to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi along with heavy fines,” said family lawyer Rana Mudassar Umer.
The special court of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency said Khan and his wife were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for criminal breach of trust under the penal code, with an additional seven years under anti corruption laws.
The case centres on luxury watches gifted to Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during official visits. Prosecutors said Khan and Bushra Bibi later bought the gifts from the state at heavily discounted prices, in violation of Pakistan’s rules governing official gifts.
Tarar said the transactions caused losses of several million rupees to the state.
Zulfi Bukhari, a spokesperson for Khan, criticised the ruling, saying it “ignores basic principles of justice” and turns the legal process into “a tool for selective prosecution”.
Khan has instructed his lawyers to challenge the verdict at the Islamabad High Court, according to Salman Safdar, another member of his legal team, who spoke to reporters outside the jail where the proceedings were held.
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Separate Toshakhana conviction
The latest case is separate from an earlier prosecution linked to Khan’s August 2023 arrest over state gifts. In that matter, Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison and Bushra Bibi to seven years, though those sentences were later suspended on appeal. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
Such cases are widely known in Pakistan as Toshakhana cases, referring to the government repository where gifts received by public officials are deposited.
Following Saturday’s verdict, Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, announced plans to hold protests across Punjab province on Sunday.
The party has also alleged that Khan’s routine family and legal visits have been blocked in recent weeks despite court orders. Authorities deny the claims and say Khan is being treated in line with prison regulations.
A former international cricket star turned politician, Khan remains one of Pakistan’s most divisive figures, with his legal battles continuing as his party remains out of power and politically sidelined.
