In a major legal setback for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a special court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of imprisonment each. The verdict, delivered within the high-security Adiala Jail by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand, pertains to the Toshakhana-2 corruption case.
The Verdict and Penalties
The court found the former first couple guilty of misusing their authority to retain expensive state gifts at significantly undervalued prices. The sentencing includes:
- 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
- 7 years of imprisonment under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- Fine: A fine of Rs 16.4 million was imposed on each of the convicts. Failure to pay this fine will result in additional jail time.
Despite the 17-year total, the court noted that it had taken a "lenient view" in its awarding of the sentence, citing Imran Khan’s old age (72) and the fact that Bushra Bibi is a woman.
The "Bulgari Jewelry Set" Controversy
The core of the Toshakhana-2 case revolves around a luxury Bulgari jewelry set gifted to the couple by the Saudi Crown Prince during an official visit in May 2021.
- The Allegation: Prosecutors argued that the jewelry set, valued at approximately Rs 75 million to Rs 80 million, was retained by the couple after paying a meager Rs 2.9 million—a "throwaway price" that caused a significant loss to the national exchequer.
- The Defense: Imran Khan has consistently rejected the charges, labeling the case as "malicious, fabricated, and politically engineered." He maintained that the gift was declared and retained in full compliance with the Toshakhana Policy 2018.
Mounting Legal Hurdles
This is the latest in a series of convictions for the PTI founder, who has been incarcerated since August 2023. Khan is already serving sentences in the Al-Qadir Trust case and has faced previous convictions in the Cipher and the first Toshakhana case (though some of those were later suspended on appeal).
Immediately following the verdict, Khan’s legal team announced their intention to challenge the 17-year sentence in the High Court, calling the trial a "denial of due process."
