Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan and Wife Sentenced to 17 Years in State Gift Corruption Case
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, received 17-year prison sentences for illegally retaining and selling state gifts, despite denying all corruption charges.
Overview
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were sentenced to 17 years in prison on Wednesday.
The couple was convicted in a corruption case for illegally retaining and selling valuable state gifts received during Khan's premiership.
Pakistani law mandates that officials must purchase gifts from foreign dignitaries at market value and declare any profits from their sale.
Despite the conviction, both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi maintained their innocence, pleading not guilty and denying all charges against them.
This sentencing marks a significant legal development for the former Prime Minister, adding to his ongoing legal challenges in Pakistan.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally, presenting factual details of Imran Khan's sentencing for state gift fraud alongside his legal team's immediate plans to challenge the verdict. They provide extensive background on the case and Khan's political situation without employing loaded language or selective emphasis, allowing for a balanced understanding.
Articles (3)
FAQ
The Toshakhana case involves allegations that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi illegally retained and sold state gifts received during his premiership by undervaluing them or misdeclaring assets, violating Pakistani law requiring officials to purchase gifts at market value and declare profits.
Both were sentenced to 17 years in total: 10 years for criminal breach of trust and 7 years for corruption charges related to underpricing state gifts like a Bulgari jewelry set.
This is an additional conviction in the Toshakhana 2 case, separate from an earlier Toshakhana case where Khan received 14 years; he faces multiple other sentences including 14 years in Al-Qadir Trust and others, while remaining jailed since 2023.
Imran Khan and his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf claim the case is politically motivated, deny corruption or illegal sales, arguing the conviction was for minor misdeclarations under the Election Act, not corruption, and call it a kangaroo court ruling.
History
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