Pakistan court rules against Imran Khan in Saudi gifts corruption case
A Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case, marking another major legal setback for the jailed PTI founder.
The verdict was pronounced by Special Court Judge Shahrukh Arjumand inside the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Imran Khan has been lodged in multiple cases, according to news agency PTI.
Case linked to Saudi state gifts
The Toshakhana case pertains to alleged irregularities in the handling of state gifts received from the Saudi government in 2021, during Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister.
According to Dawn, the prosecution alleged that Khan retained an expensive Bulgari jewellery set, gifted by the Saudi Crown Prince during an official visit in May 2021, by purchasing it at a heavily undervalued price.
The jewellery set, valued at approximately ₹80 million, was allegedly acquired for just Rs 2.9 million, with prosecutors arguing that this amounted to criminal misuse of public office.
Prison terms and fines
The court awarded 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code for criminal breach of trust and seven additional years under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were also fined ₹10 million each.
While announcing the sentence, the court said it had taken into account Khan’s age and Bushra Bibi’s gender while awarding punishment.
“This court, while passing sentences, has considered the old age of Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, as well as the fact that Bushra Imran Khan is a female,” Dawn quoted the court order as saying, adding that a “lenient view” had therefore been taken.
PTI alleges ‘kangaroo court’
Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), strongly criticised the verdict, alleging that the trial was conducted unfairly and that family members were barred from entering the jail premises.
Taking to X, PTI described the proceedings as a “kangaroo court” and claimed that the closed-door jail trial amounted to a “military trial.”
The party also shared a video of Aleema Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, alleging that she was stopped from proceeding to the jail.
“They can’t stop us. The jail trial is today,” she said in the video, calling the restrictions imposed on the family “illegal.”
Sentence to run consecutively
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar welcomed the verdict, stating that the sentence would run consecutively and would commence after the completion of Khan’s jail term in the £190 million corruption case.
Tarar accused Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi of committing fraud by undervaluing state gifts and retaining them for personal use, calling their actions a “breach of public trust.”
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