A major upheaval has once again struck Pakistani politics. The country's former Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 17 years each in a corruption case.
Islamabad: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 17 years in prison in a corruption case. Imran Khan was first arrested on May 9, 2023, on corruption charges, while he was detained again in August 2023 in the Toshakhana case.
The former Pakistani Prime Minister and World Cup-winning captain received this new sentence at a time when the Pakistani government is facing criticism over alleged mistreatment of him in jail. The United Nations has also intervened on this issue, demanding the release of Imran Khan from solitary confinement.
What is the Toshakhana-2 case?
Toshakhana is the government department where gifts received by leaders during foreign visits are deposited. The allegation is that Imran Khan received an expensive Bulgari jewelry set as a gift from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia during an official visit in May 2021. According to investigating agencies, the jewelry was purchased at a very low price in violation of the rules, causing a loss to the national treasury. Based on this, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were accused of corruption, criminal breach of trust, and abuse of power.
Court Verdict
According to reports from Geo News and Dawn, a special court delivered the verdict on Saturday after completing the hearing at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand gave this decision after approximately 80 hearings. The court sentenced Imran Khan to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 34 (common intention) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code, and an additional seven years under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. This brings the total sentence to 17 years. Bushra Bibi was also sentenced to 17 years under the same sections.
In addition, both have been fined 16.4 million Pakistani Rupees. A provision for additional imprisonment has also been made in case the fine is not paid.
Will Imran Khan Remain in Jail?
Imran Khan is already imprisoned in several cases. He was first arrested on May 9, 2023, on corruption charges. He was then arrested again in the Toshakhana case in August 2023. Following the current verdict, it is almost certain that Imran Khan is unlikely to be released from jail anytime soon.
However, the court has mentioned "leniency" while announcing the sentence, taking into account his age and the fact that Bushra Bibi is a woman. They have also been given the benefit of adjusting the time spent in custody in the sentence under Section 382-B of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
