ISLAMABAD: A special court in Islamabad on Saturday sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years’ imprisonment each in the Toshakhana-2 case, marking another major legal development for the jailed political leader.
The verdict was announced by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during a hearing held inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023. The case relates to the alleged unlawful purchase and retention of a high-value Bulgari jewellery set that was gifted to Imran Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an official visit in May 2021.
According to the prosecution, the jewellery set was valued at approximately Rs80 million but was acquired by Imran Khan for only Rs2.9 million, a price described by prosecutors as far below its actual market value. The court ruled that the actions constituted criminal breach of trust and corruption under Pakistani law.
Imran Khan was sentenced to a combined 17 years in prison, including 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Sections 34 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and an additional seven years under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Bushra Bibi received the same sentence under identical legal provisions. Both were also fined Rs16.4 million each, with the court stating that failure to pay the fines would result in additional jail time.
The court noted that it had taken into account Imran Khan’s age and Bushra Bibi’s status as a woman while determining the sentence, adding that the benefit of Section 382-B of the Criminal Procedure Code would apply, allowing time already spent in custody to be counted toward the sentence.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were indicted in the case in December last year and had denied all charges during proceedings, calling the case politically motivated and fabricated to disqualify the former prime minister from politics. Imran Khan is already serving a 14-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case, while Bushra Bibi is serving a seven-year term in the same matter. Additional cases, including trials related to the May 9, 2023 protests under the Anti-Terrorism Act, are also pending against Imran Khan.
Following the verdict, the PTI strongly condemned the ruling, calling it a “kangaroo court” decision. The party claimed that the trial was conducted behind closed doors, that lawyers and family members were not allowed inside the jail at the time of the verdict, and that basic principles of a fair trial were violated.
Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan criticised the judgment, alleging that decisions against her brother were pre-written and politically driven. Other PTI leaders, including Salman Akram Raja and Omar Ayub, also rejected the verdict, questioning the credibility of the evidence and alleging misuse of the judicial system for political engineering.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar welcomed the court’s decision, stating that the sentence would run consecutively and begin after the completion of Imran Khan’s existing sentence. He said the ruling upheld accountability and described the case as a clear breach of public trust.
The verdict has further intensified political tensions in the country, with PTI supporters denouncing the decision and government officials defending it as a lawful outcome under Pakistan’s accountability framework.
