A Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison each in a corruption case involving the discounted purchase of luxury state gifts, court officials and Khan’s lawyers said.
The ruling adds to a growing list of legal troubles for Khan, who has been jailed since August 2023 and faces multiple cases filed after he was ousted from office in 2022. Those cases include allegations of corruption, violations of state secrecy laws and anti-terrorism charges. Khan denies wrongdoing and says the cases are politically motivated, a claim echoed by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
A special court of the Federal Investigation Agency said the couple received 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for criminal breach of trust under Pakistan’s penal code, along with an additional seven years under anti-corruption laws.
The case centers on luxury watches presented to Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during official visits. Prosecutors said Khan and his wife later acquired the gifts from the state at a sharply reduced price, violating rules governing gifts received by public officials and causing the state financial losses of several million rupees.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan’s sentence would begin after he completes a separate 14-year prison term in a land corruption case.
Khan’s legal team said they would appeal the verdict. “The verdict constitutes a grave violation of the rule of law and disregards the basic rights of the accused,” said Khan spokesperson Zulfi Bukhari.
Legal analyst Osama Malik criticized the ruling as excessive, saying that while selling state gifts may have been improper, it should not result in a lengthy prison sentence. He said any gains could have been addressed through fines rather than imprisonment.
The case is part of a series of prosecutions known in Pakistan as the Toshakhana cases, referring to the state repository for gifts received by public officials. An earlier conviction in a related case that led to Khan’s arrest in August 2023 was later suspended on appeal.
Following Saturday’s verdict, Khan’s party said it would stage protests across Punjab province on Sunday. The party has also accused authorities of blocking family and legal visits in recent weeks, despite court orders allowing them. Officials have denied the allegations, saying Khan is receiving all facilities permitted to inmates.
