In a ruling that has further intensified the political turbulence in Pakistan, a special court has sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison each.
The verdict, delivered this week regarding the “Toshakhana 2” case, marks a severe escalation in the legal battles facing the former cricket star turned politician. While Khan is already incarcerated facing multiple legal challenges, this latest judgment imposes the longest prison term against him to date, compounding the uncertainty surrounding the future of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The Verdict: A Breakdown of the Sentence
The court’s decision centers on allegations of corruption and criminal breach of trust involving the state treasury, or Toshakhana. The prosecution successfully argued that the couple illegally retained and undervalued gifts received from foreign dignitaries during Khan’s tenure—gifts that, by law, belong to the state.
Crucially, the 17-year sentence is the result of two separate charges ordered to run consecutively rather than concurrently:
- 10 Years: Rigorous imprisonment for criminal breach of trust.
- 7 Years: Imprisonment under relevant anti-corruption statutes.
In addition to the prison time, the court has levied heavy fines against the couple, signaling a zero-tolerance approach by the judiciary on matters of state asset misappropriation.
“A Mockery of Justice”: The Defense Responds
The reaction from Khan’s legal team was swift and scathing. Immediately following the announcement, Khan’s lawyers vehemently rejected the ruling, declaring their intent to challenge the verdict in the High Court.
The defense alleges significant procedural irregularities. According to Khan’s spokespersons, the court delivered its sentence abruptly, without hearing the defense’s final arguments.
“This ignores the basic principles of justice,” a representative for the legal team stated. They argue that the rushed nature of the closed-door trial points to a political motivation: a strategy designed to dismantle Khan’s public standing and ensure he remains ineligible for active politics.
From World Cup to Prison Cell
For international observers, Imran Khan’s trajectory remains one of the most dramatic arcs in modern political history.
Rising to global fame as the captain who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, Khan leveraged his philanthropy and popularity to found the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 1996. After spending decades on the political fringes, his persistence paid off in 2018 when he was elected as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan, promising a “New Pakistan” free of corruption.
However, his relationship with the country’s powerful establishment soured, leading to his ouster in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. Since then, Khan has been at the center of a stormy confrontation with the state, facing an avalanche of legal cases ranging from sedition to corruption—a struggle that has now culminated in this 17-year sentence.
As Khan and Bushra Bibi prepare their appeal, the verdict stands as a polarizing flashpoint in a nation already grappling with deep political fissures.
Sources: BBC | Al Jazeera | ABC Australia
