A Pakistani court on Thursday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 14 years in prison on charges of unlawfully retaining and selling state gifts, a verdict delivered less than a week before the country’s general election.
The conviction, handed down by an anti-corruption court in Islamabad, centers on allegations that Khan and Bibi improperly profited from gifts received during Khan’s tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The gifts, deposited in the state repository known as Toshakhana, included perfumes, diamond jewelry, dinner sets, and cufflinks, according to Pakistani Information Minister Murtaza Solangi. The court likewise imposed a fine of 787 million Pakistani rupees (approximately $2.8 million) on each defendant.
The case revolves around the legal requirement for government officials to declare and purchase gifts received during their service. Prosecutors alleged that Khan failed to properly declare the gifts and then sold them for personal gain, violating the Toshakhana rules. Khan has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming the charges are politically motivated and designed to prevent his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), from competing effectively in the upcoming elections.
This conviction follows a previous 10-year sentence handed down to Khan earlier this week for leaking state secrets, a charge he also denies. The August 2023 sentencing in a related Toshakhana case, which resulted in a three-year prison term, has been suspended. Khan’s legal team has argued that the proceedings against him are flawed and lack due process, alleging that the judge in the initial Toshakhana case refused to allow his accountant to testify regarding tax declarations.
According to court documents presented in December 2024, a list of 108 gifts received by Khan during his premiership was submitted to the court. The presentation of this list occurred during a hearing held at Adiala jail, where Khan and Bibi appeared alongside their legal counsel, including Salman Akram Raja and Barrister Gohar. A witness from the Cabinet Division, representing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), testified and was subject to cross-examination.
The prosecution detailed specific items within the 108 gifts, including a diamond set valued at approximately 14.827 million Pakistani rupees, with a necklace costing 8.3 million rupees, earrings worth 966,900 rupees, a ring valued at 382,300 rupees, and a bangle priced at 5.17 million rupees. Khan admitted in September 2022 to selling four gifts – watches, a ring, a pen, and cufflinks – for a total profit exceeding 36 million rupees.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) previously disqualified Khan under Article 63(1)(p) of the constitution, citing his failure to declare the proceeds from the sale of the Toshakhana gifts in his tax returns. The ECP’s decision was based on a ruling by Judge Dilawar Hussain.
The timing of the conviction, just days before the February 8th general election, has drawn criticism from PTI supporters and international observers, who express concerns about the fairness of the electoral process. As of Thursday evening, no immediate comment was available from the Pakistani government regarding the implications of the verdict for the upcoming elections.
