Rawalpindi [Pakistan]: A special court of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of imprisonment each in the Toshakhana-2 case, according to Dawn.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 16.4 million on both convicts, warning that failure to pay the amount would result in additional jail time. In its order, the court noted that Imran Khan’s advanced age and the fact that Bushra Bibi is a woman were taken into consideration, leading to what it described as a comparatively lenient punishment.
The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during proceedings held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is currently incarcerated. The case pertains to the alleged purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set, which was reportedly gifted to Imran Khan by the Saudi Crown Prince during an official visit in May 2021 and later acquired at a significantly undervalued price.
According to the court’s ruling, Imran Khan was awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Sections 34 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code for common intention and criminal breach of trust, along with seven years under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for criminal misconduct by a public servant. Bushra Bibi was handed an identical sentence under the same legal provisions.
The court further granted the benefit of Section 382-B of the Criminal Procedure Code, allowing the period already spent in custody to be counted towards the sentence. Following the verdict, legal teams representing Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi indicated that they would challenge the decision before the high court.
Dawn reported that both had earlier denied all charges, describing the case as politically motivated and aimed at sidelining the former prime minister from active politics. Imran Khan had maintained that due process under the Toshakhana Policy 2018 was followed, asserting that the gift was duly reported, assessed and retained only after payment was deposited into the national exchequer.
