Imran Khan and wife sentenced to 17-year jail terms in another corruption case
Lahore: 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 underpriced purchase of luxury state gifts, the court and Khan’s lawyers said.
The latest conviction has added to a string of legal problems for Khan, who has been behind bars since August 2023 and is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence in a separate land corruption case.
Supporters of Pakistan’s detained former prime minister Imran Khan protested outside the Islamabad High Court this month.Credit: access point
He faces dozens of cases since his ouster in 2022, from corruption to anti-terrorism and state secret charges. Khan has denied any wrongdoing in all the cases, which his party said were politically motivated.
Rana, the lawyer of Khan’s family, said, “The court announced the sentence without hearing the defense and sentenced Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison along with heavy fines.”
Mudassar Umer told Reuters.
In the decision of the special court of the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan, it was stated that the defendants were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for breach of trust under the Pakistani criminal code and an additional seven years of imprisonment under the anti-corruption laws.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan’s prison sentence after Saturday’s verdict will begin after he has served 14 years in prison from the land bribery case.
Imran Khan speaks to media with wife Bushra Bibi at Lahore High Court in 2023.Credit: access point
The case concerns luxury watches gifted to Khan by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his official visits. Prosecutors said Khan and his wife then bought the watches from the government at a deeply discounted price, violating Pakistan’s gift rules.
Tarrar said the purchase resulted in a loss of several million rupees to the state.
