Pakistan's ex-PM Imran Khan and wife sentenced to 17 years in prison

A special court in Pakistan has handed down 17-year prison sentences to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a case involving the illegal sale of state gifts. The verdict was announced on Saturday inside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where both defendants are currently imprisoned, and also included a substantial fine for each.

Conviction in the Toshakhana-II Case

Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand delivered the ruling in the so-called Toshakhana-II case, which pertains to the alleged unlawful purchase and sale of foreign gifts received by Khan during his premiership at significantly undervalued prices. Khan and his wife, indicted last year, have consistently rejected the charges, labeling the case as fabricated and politically motivated to sideline the former cricket star-turned-politician.

A Pattern of Legal Challenges for the Former Leader

This conviction represents the third legal setback for Khan related to the state gifts repository, known as Toshakhana. He was previously sentenced to three years in prison in August 2023, and both he and his wife received a 14-year sentence in a separate Toshakhana case in January 2024. Since his initial arrest and jailing in August 2023, Khan has faced a barrage of legal cases ranging from corruption to terrorism, which he collectively dismisses as "sham" prosecutions.

The Broader Political Context

The sentencing intensifies the ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan. The government has filed over 200 cases against the former premier, though he has secured bail in many. The successive convictions against a major opposition figure underscore the deep political fissures and the contentious role of the judiciary in the country's power struggles.