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 under-priced purchase of luxury state gifts. The conviction adds to a series of legal troubles for Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023.
Imran Khan Corruption Sentence
Khan’s family lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umer, told Reuters the court announced the sentence without hearing the defence. They were sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment under Pakistan’s penal code for criminal breach of trust and an additional seven years under anti-corruption laws, according to the special court of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency.
The case centers on luxury watches gifted to Khan by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during official visits. Prosecutors allege that Khan and his wife purchased the gifts from the state at a heavily discounted price, violating Pakistan’s gift rules.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan’s jail term from Saturday’s ruling would begin after he has completed the 14 years from a separate land graft case. Tarar also stated the purchase resulted in losses of several million rupees for the state.
Khan has denied wrongdoing in all cases filed against him since being ousted from office in 2022, claiming they are politically motivated. He faces dozens of such cases, including charges of anti-terrorism and violating state secrets laws.
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