Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi were handed a 14-year prison sentence in the Toshakhana case.
This decision was made after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed charges against them last month. They were accused of keeping jewelry gifted by the Saudi crown prince and improperly assessing its value.
The verdict arrives just eight days before Pakistan’s general elections on February 8. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khan’s party, is running in the election amid significant government pressure and without its usual electoral symbol.
This sentence followed another legal setback for Khan, as just the day prior, he and his former foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, received a 10-year sentence for leaking confidential state information.
The hearing took place in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, where Khan is already detained. Judge Mohammad Bashir of the accountability court presided over the session. During the trial, Khan was present, but Bushra Bibi was absent.
Both Khan and his wife have also been barred from holding any public office for a decade and were ordered to pay a fine of Rs787 million.
During the proceedings, the judge refused to reopen cross-examination rights for Khan’s defense team. This meant that they could not question the prosecution’s witnesses further. A day before the sentencing, Bushra Bibi gave her statement, while Khan did not get the opportunity.
Khan’s defense argued that they had proof showing the actual worth of the jewelry in question was Rs180 million, much less than the prosecution’s claim of over Rs3 billion.
Despite this, Khan’s numerous changes in legal representation and requests for additional time led to the court’s denial to allow further cross-examination.
Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas commented on the sentencing’s timing, noting it’s bound to stir discussions. Abbas speculated on the possible reactions of PTI members and supporters, questioning whether they would be discouraged or galvanized as the elections approach.
