Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 17 years in prison in a corruption case involving selling state gifts, a ruling that has intensified political tensions in the country.
The sentence was handed down by a Pakistani court on Saturday after finding the couple guilty of illegally retaining and selling valuable gifts received from foreign dignitaries during Khan’s time in office. Prosecutors argued that the gifts were purchased at a price far below their true market value and later sold for profit.
According to court findings, the case centred on luxury items, including jewellery gifted by the Saudi Arabian government.
Under Pakistani law, officials may retain such gifts only by purchasing them at their full market value and declaring any profit made from their sale.
Prosecutors said Khan and his wife paid just $10,000 for items valued at $285,521, a discrepancy they claimed amounted to corruption.
Khan and Bushra Bibi have consistently denied the accusations, arguing that the case was politically motivated and based on a flawed interpretation of regulations. Their legal team maintains that no criminal intent or unlawful gain was proven during the proceedings.
Supporters of the former prime minister reacted swiftly to the verdict. Khan’s spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said that “criminal liability was imposed without proof of intent, gain, or loss, relying instead on a retrospective reinterpretation of rules”.
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His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, described the trial as a “sham” and accused international media of misrepresenting the facts of the case.
Political reaction
Criticism of the ruling extended beyond party officials to members of Khan’s family. His sister, Aleema Khanum, described the case as fabricated and accused the judicial system of acting under political pressure.
“The whole country’s knows he’s an honest man,” she said. “He is isolated, he is being tortured through solitary confinement, him and his wife. This is the situation, two and a quarter months.”
Khanum questioned the severity of the punishment, adding, “You think Imran is going to spend 10 years in jail for a necklace being underpriced. Seriously? That’s 17 years of conviction?” She claimed the verdict reflected “a collapsed judicial system” rather than a fair application of the law.
Imran Khan served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until April 2022, when he was removed from office through a no confidence vote. Since then, he has faced multiple legal cases ranging from corruption to the alleged disclosure of state secrets.
He was first imprisoned in August 2023 and has remained in custody on various charges, some of which have since been overturned or dismissed. Khan has denied all allegations and insists they are part of a coordinated effort to prevent his return to power.
Despite his imprisonment, Khan remains one of the country’s most popular political figures. His jailing has repeatedly sparked protests, with supporters arguing that his removal and subsequent prosecutions amount to the theft of the public mandate.
Before entering politics, Khan was an internationally celebrated cricket star, a status that helped propel him to national leadership. That legacy continues to shape public opinion, with many Pakistanis viewing the case through a political rather than purely legal lens.
The latest verdict adds another chapter to a prolonged confrontation between Khan and Pakistan’s political establishment. As appeals are expected, the case is likely to remain a focal point in the country’s ongoing struggle over power, accountability, and the rule of law.
