Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi sentenced to 17 years each in Toshakhana corruption case

The case relates to alleged fraud involving: State gifts received by the former First Couple from the Saudi government in 2021

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan,

Imran Khan, right, and Bushra Bibi, his wife, sign documents as he submits surety bond over his bails in various cases, at an office of Lahore High Court in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 17, 2023.

A Pakistan accountability court on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in jail each in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case, adding another conviction to the list of legal troubles facing the jailed Opposition leader.

The case relates to the alleged fraud involving state gifts received by the former first couple from the Saudi government in 2021.

Prosecutors accused Khan and Bushra Bibi of misusing and improperly retaining gifts intended for the state, a charge they have consistently denied.

The verdict was announced by special court judge Shahrukh Arjumand inside the high-security Additional Jail in Rawalpindi, where Imran Khan is currently lodged.

Both were awarded ten years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with an additional seven years under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10 million on each of them.

The Toshakhana cases revolve around the handling of gifts received by the public office holders during foreign visits.

While earlier cases linked to the Toshakhana had already resulted in Khan’s disqualification from public office, this second conviction deepens his legal and political crisis, even as his party continues to claim that the cases are politically motivated.

The verdict added to Imran Khan’s mounting legal troubles, with the former Prime Minister remaining behind bars at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail from August 2023 in corruption and anti-terrorism cases.

A special Pakistan court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in jail each in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case.

The case centers on an expensive Bulgari jewelery set gifted to Imran Khan by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit of the former first couple in May 2021, which officials said was later bought at a heavily undervalued price.

The verdict was pronounced by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during a hearing conducted at Rawalpindi’s Additional Jail,

Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, along with seven years under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 16.4 million each on the couple.

“This court, while passing sentences, has considered the old age of Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, as well as the fact that Bushra Imran Khan is a female. It is in consideration of both the said factors that a lenient view has been taken in awarding lesser punishment,” a copy of the verdict accessed by Dawn stated.

Following the verdict, the counsel of Khan and Bibi said that they would challenge the decision before the High Court.

In October this year, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi rejected all the charges in the case, calling it fabricated, and a politically driven move aimed at disqualifying him from politics.

Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023, is serving a 14-year sentence in a EUR 190 million corruption case and is also facing pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act over the May 9, 2023 protests. Bushra Bibi is likewise serving a seven-year sentence in the same corruption case.

The latest sentencing comes amidst growing criticism of the Pakistan government over the alleged mistreatment of Imran Khan in custody, with even the United Nations calling for his immediate release from solitary confinement.

Earlier this week, Khan’s sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Isa Khan, made serious allegations about his jail conditions, claiming their father has been kept in solitary confinement for two years and expressing fear that they may never see him again.

NEW DELHI:

A special court of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency on Saturday sentenced former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of imprisonment each in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case, reported Dawn.
The court also imposed a fine of Pakistani Rs 16.4 million (INR 52,39,524) on each of them. Failure to pay the fine will result in additional jail time, according to the law.

Citing the court order copy, Dawn reported that the sentences took into account Imran Khan’s age and the fact that Bushra Bibi is a woman, resulting in what the court described as a “lenient” punishment. “This court, while passing sentences has considered the old age of Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, as well as the fact that Bushra Imran Khan is a female. It is in consideration of both said factors that a lenient view has been taken in awarding lesser punishment,” said the order.

The verdict was delivered by special judge Shahrukh Arjumand during a hearing held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where Imran Khan is currently imprisoned.

According to Dawn, the case relates to the alleged purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewelery set which was gifted to Imran Khan by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021 and later acquired at a throwaway price.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case, as reported by PTI. The case relates to alleged irregularities related to state gifts that the former first couple got from the Saudi government in 2021. The verdict came even as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf remained lodged in Adiala Jail following his incarceration in 2023.

What was the judgment made?

The judgment was pronounced by Special Court judge Shahrukh Arjumand at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where the proceedings were conducted under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code and an additional seven years under the sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. As per the PTI report, the court has also announced a fine of Rs 16.4 million on each of them.

What is the case against EX-Pak PM Imran Khan?

The case centers on the alleged purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewelry set. This gift was presented to Khan by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021 at a throwaway price, as per a report by Dawn. The report also mentioned that both Imran and Bushra were sentenced under provisions which include PPC Sections 34, 409, and Section 5 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. If they fail to submit the fine, then the jail time could be extended.

The court order stated that it took into account Imran Khan’s age and Bushra Bibi being a woman, and applied the benefit of Section 382-B (counting detention time towards the sentence). After the verdict, Dawn reported, the couple’s legal team indicated that it could challenge the ruling in the high court. Imran and Bushra had earlier denied the claims, terming the case as politically motivated.

Recently,Imran Khan‘s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded an end to what is being described as his “solitary confinement”. A report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Edwards, has raised concerns over his detention conditions at Adiala Jail. Citing PTI’s statement, ANI stated that the UN report warned that the conditions of Khan’s detention could amount to inhumane or degrading treatment. The report has urged Pakistan authorities to adhere to international standards and norms. The party has claimed the issue of prolonged isolation, reportedly up to 23 hours a day, along with continuous CCTV surveillance. He has been isolated from the outside world, curtailment of religious practices, restrictions in meeting with family members and legal counsel and denial of basic needs. The party stated that this violates prison rules and international human rights law.

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