A Pakistani court recently handed down a significant sentence to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, totaling 17 years in prison for allegedly retaining and selling state gifts. The special court in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where Khan is currently incarcerated, prosecuted the case known as ‘Toshakhana 2’ that stemmed from a 2021 visit to Saudi Arabia. During the visit, the couple purportedly received an expensive Bulgari jewelry set from the Saudi crown prince. Prosecutors argued the set was valued at USD 285,000 but the couple paid only USD 103,000, maintaining the charges were politically motivated.
The court convicted them under sections 34 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. These sections pertain to criminal breach of trust and joint criminal misconduct, with an additional fine of USD 58,000 imposed on both. Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), asserts that over 200 cases have been filed against him since his 2023 arrest, alleging state-led political persecution.
Khan has faced a series of legal challenges beyond this recent ruling. Earlier, Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau Court sentenced him to 14 years in the Al-Qadir corruption case. In another notable case, he was sentenced to 10 years over revealing a secret document alleging U.S. involvement in his removal from power. Moreover, charges for violating Islamic marriage law were once overturned by the Supreme Court, while he awaits trial on anti-terrorism charges related to May 2023 protests.
Among the controversies is the condition of Khan’s detention. Authorities have placed him in a small, isolated cell with limited sunlight, restrictions that have drawn criticism from United Nations experts on inhumane treatment. UN Special Rapporteur on torture Alice Jill Edwards described the detention as potentially amounting to torture.
The judicial environment in Pakistan has also seen fundamental shifts lately, notably with the passage of the 27th Amendment to the constitution. This amendment established the Federal Constitutional Court, exclusive in constitutional interpretation and federal-provincial disputes. It also expanded the executive’s control over judicial appointments, a move experts describe as a substantial restructuring of Pakistan’s legal landscape.
Imran Khan’s political downfall began with a no-confidence motion leading to his removal in April 2022. Since then, courts have sentenced him in several graft cases, accumulating to 65 years’ imprisonment. For more detailed insights into this complex legal saga, see the original report. As Khan continues to navigate these legal battles, supporters and critics alike await the implications of his enduring entanglement with Pakistan’s judicial system.