In a significant twist of events, a Pakistani court has handed down a 14-year prison sentence to former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in connection with the Toshakhana case. Additionally, the couple faces a ten-year ban from holding public office and a fine of Rs 787 million Pakistani Rupees.
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This development follows a recent ruling by a special court in Pakistan that sentenced Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to ten years in prison on charges related to breaching state secrets. The Toshakhana case, a critical decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), had earlier resulted in the disqualification of Imran Khan from public office for five years.
The case, initiated in August 2022 by members of the Pakistan Democratic Movement, accused Khan of not reporting details of Toshakhana gifts in his annual asset declarations to the Election Commission. The ECP’s final verdict on October 21, 2022, cited Khan for offences involving dishonest behaviour, fabricated information, and inaccurate declarations under Article 63(1)(p).
The case was subsequently sent to a trial court for criminal proceedings. Khan contested the decision, asserting that he legally obtained gifts from the Toshakhana, using the proceeds for public investment and development.
The Toshakhana case alleges that Khan failed to deposit £19 million ($24,080,695) from the British government, allowing a property tycoon to use it to offset a Rs 460 billion fine imposed by the Supreme Court.
Alongside Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, other co-accused individuals include property developer Malik Riaz Hussain, his son Riaz Alia, Imran Khan’s former aides Shehzad Akbar and Zulfiqar Bukhari, as well as Bibi’s friend Farah Gogi and lawyer Zia Mustafa.
The case proceedings took place in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Khan is currently incarcerated, and were filed by Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau.
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