Imran Khan, wife handed 17-year prison terms in alleged graft case

A Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison each in a corruption case involving the alleged underpriced purchase of luxury state gifts, The Independent reported, citing court officials and Khan’s lawyers.

The ruling adds to Khan’s mounting legal troubles. He has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is already serving a 14-year sentence in a separate land corruption case. The latest sentence would take effect only after the completion of that earlier term, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.

Khan faces dozens of cases filed since he was removed from office in 2022, ranging from corruption and “anti-terrorism charges” to alleged violations of state secrets laws. He has denied all wrongdoing, while his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party maintains the cases are politically motivated.

“The court announced the sentence without hearing the defence and sentenced 17 years imprisonment to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi with heavy fines,” family lawyer Rana Mudassar Umer told Reuters.

Wider context
According to the verdict issued by a special court of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, the couple received 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under the penal code for criminal breach of trust, along with an additional seven years under anti-corruption laws.

The case allegedly centers on luxury watches gifted to Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during official visits. Prosecutors claimed that Khan and his wife later purchased the items from the state at heavily discounted prices, in violation of Pakistan’s gift rules, resulting in losses of several million rupees to the treasury, Tarar said.

Zulfi Bukhari, a PTI spokesperson, criticized the ruling, saying it “ignores basic principles of justice” and turns the judicial process into “a tool for selective prosecution.” Another defense lawyer, Salman Safdar, said Khan had instructed his legal team to challenge the verdict at the Islamabad High Court, according to Geo News.

Another Toshakhana conviction
The case is separate from an earlier prosecution related to state gifts that led to Khan’s arrest in August 2023. In that case, Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison and Bushra Bibi to seven years, though both sentences were later suspended on appeal. The couple has denied any wrongdoing in those proceedings as well.

Such cases are commonly referred to in Pakistan as the Toshakhana cases, named after the state repository where gifts received by public officials are deposited.

Following Saturday’s verdict, PTI announced plans to stage protests across Punjab on Sunday. The party has also stressed that Khan has been denied routine family and legal visits in recent weeks, despite court orders. Authorities have rejected those claims, saying he is being treated in accordance with prison regulations.

Khan, a former international cricket star turned politician, remains one of Pakistan’s most divisive figures. His ongoing legal battles continue as PTI remains sidelined from power and Pakistan’s political tensions show little sign of easing.