Former Pakistan Prime Minister faces 17 years behind bars.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI founder, Imran Khan, alongside his wife Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 17 years in prison. This major ruling comes from a special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the high-profile Toshakhana-2 case. The verdict, delivered this Saturday at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, marks a significant turning point in the country's political landscape.
While the 17-year Imran Khan Toshakhana case sentence sounds substantial, the court actually noted that it was being "lenient." Judge Shahrukh Arjumand highlighted that the punishment was mitigated due to Imran Khan’s advanced age and the fact that Bushra Bibi is a woman. Without these considerations, the prison term could have been even more severe. Along with the jail time, the couple faces a hefty fine of Rs 16.4 million. Failing to pay this amount will result in additional time behind bars.
At the heart of this legal battle is an expensive Bulgari jewelry set. This luxury item was gifted to the former Prime Minister by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit back in May 2021. Prosecutors alleged that the couple retained the jewelry at a "throwaway price" instead of depositing it or paying the actual market value as per state rules.
Imran Khan has consistently dismissed the charges. During his statement, he argued that the entire case was "malicious and politically engineered" to keep him out of the political arena. He maintained that his office followed the Toshakhana Policy of 2018 to the letter, ensuring all gifts were reported and assessed correctly. He also claimed that as Prime Minister, he was not directly involved in the specifics of gifts received by his wife.
Despite these defenses, the court proceeded with the conviction under sections related to criminal breach of trust and misconduct by public servants. The legal teams for the couple have already signaled their intent to challenge this 17-year Bushra Bibi prison term and Imran Khan's sentence in the high court immediately.
