Imran Khan and Wife Sentenced to 14 Years for Selling State Gifts

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Pakistan’s Political Landscape Suffers a Shift Following Khan’s Sentencing

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Khan, have been sentenced to 14 years in jail each on charges of illegally selling state gifts during Khan’s premiership from 2018 to 2022. The verdict, delivered by an anti-graft court, also includes a 10-year disqualification from holding public office for both individuals, according to a statement from Khan’s political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Bushra Bibi surrendered herself for arrest following the verdict, as per PTI’s announcement. This marks the third conviction for Imran Khan in recent months, with a 10-year sentence on charges of revealing state secrets being handed down just a day earlier.

Khan’s media team criticized the judicial process, alleging a lack of fair trial procedures and expressing intent to challenge the decision. They denied any wrongdoing on Khan’s part and described the verdict as “ridiculous.”

The charges against Khan and his wife involve the illegal sale of gifts worth over 140 million rupees ($501,000) received during Khan’s tenure, with government officials alleging that the items were sold in Dubai.

Imran Khan has been convicted, again. Pakistan’s generals are sidelining his party ahead of a general election https://t.co/jIiKBCaCT5 👇

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) January 31, 2024

The list of gifts reportedly includes perfumes, diamond jewelry, dinner sets, and seven watches, six of which were Rolexes, the most expensive being a “Master Graff limited edition” valued at 85 million rupees ($304,000).

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s top anti-graft body, conducted the investigation leading to the verdict. PTI’s acting chairman and lawyer, Gohar Ali Khan, suggested that Bushra Bibi’s conviction was an attempt to exert further pressure on Imran Khan, claiming she had no involvement in the case.

Imran Khan’s ouster from power in a 2022 no-confidence vote has been a contentious issue, with Khan and his party alleging a military-backed crackdown on their activities, including the arrest of supporters and key aides. The military denies these allegations.

The verdict against Khan on the state gifts charge earlier resulted in a five-year ban from holding public office, effectively barring him from the upcoming national election on February 8. With the latest sentencing, Khan faces ineligibility for office until he turns 81.