In a dramatic turn of events that has further shaken Pakistan’s political landscape, former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 17 years in prison. A Pakistani court found them guilty of illegally retaining and selling state gifts, a verdict that has ignited widespread debate and controversy across the nation.
The heart of the case lies in accusations that while Khan was in office, he and his wife misused valuable gifts received from foreign dignitaries, including elaborate jewelry from the Saudi Arabian government. Prosecutors argue these items, valued at over $285,000, were declared at a drastically understated amount of just over $10,000. This allowed the couple to purchase them at reduced prices before allegedly selling them for personal gain.
Under Pakistani law, government officials are permitted to keep state gifts, but they must buy them at their independently assessed market value and declare any profits made from their subsequent sale. Both Khan and Bushra Bibi had consistently pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his spokesperson have vehemently condemned the ruling. They assert that the verdict disregarded “basic principles of justice” and raised serious questions about the fairness and impartiality of the legal process, labeling it a “black chapter in history” and a clear case of “selective prosecution.”
This conviction adds to a growing list of legal challenges for the 73-year-old former cricket star. Ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in 2022, Khan has since faced multiple charges and prison sentences, which he and his loyal supporters maintain are politically motivated attempts to sideline him from public life.
