Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi visiting Mecca. Credit X.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 17 years in prison in a corruption case involving the sale of state gifts, a decision that has heightened political tensions in the country.
The sentence was handed down on Saturday by a Pakistani court after finding the couple guilty of illegally keeping and selling valuable gifts received from foreign dignitaries during Khan’s tenure. Prosecutors argued the gifts were purchased for far less than their true market value and then resold for profit.
According to the court’s findings, the case involved luxury items, including jewelry donated by the Saudi government.
Under Pakistani law, officials can only keep these gifts by purchasing them at full market value and declaring any profit made from their sale.
Prosecutors said Khan and his wife paid just $10,000 for items valued at $285,521, a difference they said amounted to bribery.
Khan and Bushra Bibi have consistently denied the accusations, arguing that the case was politically motivated and based on a misinterpretation of regulations. Their legal team maintains that no criminal intent or illegal gain was proven during the proceedings.
Supporters of the former prime minister reacted quickly to the verdict. Khan’s spokesman Zulfikar Bukhari said criminal liability was imposed without proof of intent, gain or loss, relying instead on a retrospective reinterpretation of the rules.
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His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, called the trial a sham and accused international media of distorting the facts of the case.
Political reaction
Criticism of the decision extended beyond party officials to members of the Khan family. His sister, Aleema Khanum, called the case fabricated and accused the justice system of acting under political pressure.
The whole country knows he is an honest man, she said. He is isolated, he and his wife are tortured in secret. This is the situation, two and a quarter months.
Khanum questioned the severity of the punishment, adding: You think Imran is going to spend 10 years in prison for a dumped necklace. Seriously? That’s 17 years of conviction? She said the verdict reflected a collapsed justice system rather than fair application of the law.
Imran Khan served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 until April 2022, when he was removed from office by a vote of no confidence. He has since faced multiple court cases ranging from corruption to alleged disclosure of state secrets.
He was first jailed in August 2023 and has remained in custody on various charges, some of which have since been overturned or dropped. Khan has denied all the allegations and insists they are part of a coordinated effort to prevent his return to power.
Despite his imprisonment, Khan remains one of the country’s most popular political figures. His imprisonment has repeatedly sparked protests, with his supporters saying his expulsion and resulting prosecution amounted to theft of public office.
Before entering politics, Khan was an internationally renowned cricket star, a status that helped propel him to national leadership. This legacy continues to shape public opinion, with many Pakistanis viewing the case through a political rather than a purely legal lens.
The latest verdict adds another chapter to a protracted confrontation between Khan and Pakistan’s political establishment. While appeals are expected, this case will likely remain at the center of the country’s ongoing struggle for power, accountability and the rule of law.
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