A Pakistani court has delivered a significant verdict against imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi, sentencing both to 17 years imprisonment for illicitly retaining and selling state gifts. The ruling, announced Saturday at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, marks another legal setback for the ousted leader.
The conviction centers on allegations that the couple substantially undervalued precious gifts received from foreign dignitaries—including jewelry from Saudi Arabia’s government—during Khan’s premiership. Prosecutors demonstrated that Khan and Bibi declared the gifts’ worth at slightly over $10,000, enabling their purchase at reduced prices, despite their actual market valuation exceeding $285,000.
Pakistani legislation explicitly mandates that government officials must acquire gifts from foreign dignitaries at fair market value if they wish to retain them, with any subsequent sales proceeds requiring declaration. The court found the couple violated these regulations through systematic undervaluation.
Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, immediately condemned the decision as “a black chapter in history,” while his spokesperson Zulfiquar Bukhari criticized the verdict for imposing “criminal liability without proof of intent, gain, or loss.” Bukhari further alleged the judgment relied on “retrospective reinterpretation of rules” and raised concerns about judicial impartiality.
The sentencing adds to multiple corruption convictions Khan has accumulated since his 2022 ouster via parliamentary no-confidence vote. The former cricket superstar maintains that all charges against him constitute politically motivated attempts to derail his continuing influence and potential return to power.