A special court in Pakistan on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment each in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case, news agency reported. The verdict was announced by Special Court Judge Shahrukh Arjumand inside the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
What the Toshakhana 2 Case Is About
The case revolves around alleged irregularities in the handling of state gifts received from the Saudi government in 2021. According to prosecution claims, Imran Khan was gifted an expensive Bulgari jewellery set by the Saudi Crown Prince during an official visit in May 2021.
As per a report by Dawn, the jewellery set was valued at around PKR 80 million (₹80 million). However, the prosecution alleged that Khan retained the gift by paying only PKR 2.9 million, far below its assessed value, thereby violating Toshakhana rules governing state gifts.
Court’s Verdict and Penalties
The court convicted both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi on multiple counts:
- 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code (criminal breach of trust)
- 7 years’ imprisonment under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act
- A fine of ₹10 million (PKR equivalent) imposed on each
The court order, quoted by Dawn, noted that a “lenient view” was taken while awarding punishment, considering Imran Khan’s age and Bushra Bibi being a woman.
PTI Reacts, Alleges Unfair Trial
Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), strongly criticised the verdict, calling the proceedings a “kangaroo court” and alleging that Khan’s family members were not allowed inside the jail during the announcement.
“A closed-door jail trial is neither free nor fair; it is in fact a military trial,” PTI said in a post on X. The party also shared a video of Aleema Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, claiming she was stopped from entering the jail premises and calling the trial “illegal”.
Government’s Stand
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar welcomed the judgment, stating that the sentence would be served consecutively, beginning after the completion of Khan’s sentence in the £190 million corruption case.
Tarar accused the former prime minister and his wife of committing “fraud” by undervaluing state gifts and retaining them for personal use, calling their actions a “breach of public trust.”
Political Fallout Continues
The conviction adds to Imran Khan’s mounting legal troubles and is expected to further intensify political tensions in Pakistan, where PTI supporters have repeatedly alleged judicial and military interference in cases against their leader.