Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 14 years in prison by an anti-corruption court in Islamabad for illegally obtaining and selling luxury gifts from foreign leaders. The couple was also disqualified from holding any public office for 10 years.
The verdict was announced on Wednesday, a day after Khan was convicted of leaking state secrets in another case, and a week before the national elections. Khan’s legal team said that Bushra Bibi would surrender at the jail after the sentence, and that they would challenge the “ridiculous” and “pre-determined” decision.
The case, known as the Toshakhana reference case, was filed in August 2022 by members of the Pakistan Democratic Movement, a coalition of opposition parties. They accused Khan of failing to disclose the details of the gifts he received from various heads of state and deposited in the Toshakhana, a treasury where such gifts are kept. They also alleged that Khan sold the gifts, which included seven wrist watches worth Rs 96.6 million, for personal profit.
According to the Toshakhana rules, the recipients of the gifts must report them to the Cabinet Division and pay a certain percentage of their value if they want to keep them. Otherwise, the gifts are auctioned or displayed in museums. Khan claimed that he obtained the gifts legally and used the proceeds from their sale for public investment and development works.
The court, however, found Khan guilty of offences involving dishonest behaviour, fabricated information, and inaccurate declarations under Article 63 (1) (p) of the Constitution. It also ordered the reference to be sent to the trial court for the commencement of criminal proceedings.
The Toshakhana case is one of the many cases filed against Khan in Pakistan since he lost power in 2022. He has been accused of various charges, including treason, sedition, money laundering, and tax evasion. Khan has denied all the allegations and blamed them on a political vendetta by his rivals.
The sentence has raised concerns over the independence of the country’s judicial system and the stability of the political situation ahead of the elections. Khan’s supporters have staged protests across the country, demanding his release and calling for a fair trial. Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has also boycotted the elections, claiming that they are rigged and manipulated by the ruling party.