Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, Wife Bushra Bibi Sentenced to 17-year Jail Terms in Corruption Charge

Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi has been sentenced to 17 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana-2 case on Saturday, as per the reports of Pakistan's Dawn.

The corruption case is about alleged fraud in state gifts, which the former Pakistan PM and his wife received from the Saudi government in 2021. Notably, the judgement was announced by the special court judge Shahrukh Arjumand in the case in the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

What the special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said? 

"A special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday sentenced PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana-2 case. The case pertains to the purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set, gifted to Imran by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021, at a throwaway price... The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during a hearing held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where Imran is incarcerated... Both of them were also fined Pakistani Rs 16.4 million in fines," as per the report of Pakistan's Dawn.

It is to be noted here that Imran Khan and Bushra were awarded 10 years' imprisonment under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code and seven years under different Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Along with the jail-term, the special court has also imposed a fine of PKR 16.4 million on Imran Khan and his wife.

What is the case?

The case is based on the allegations that expensive items, such as watches, diamond and gold jewellery sets, were sold by the former Pakistan PM and his wife without being deposited in the Toshakhana - the state gift repository. Reportedly, the case was filed in July 2024.