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Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Wife Handed Additional Jail Time in Corruption Case
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to an additional 17 years in jail on charges of corruption and illicit enrichment. This latest verdict, delivered Friday, marks another significant development in the legal challenges facing the former leader since his ouster from office.
The couple received the sentence in what is known as the Toshakhana-2 case. They were accused of fraudulently undervaluing a Bulgari jewelry set, a gift presented to them by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021. The judgment, handed down during a hearing at the jail where Khan is currently held, also includes a fine of approximately $54,000.
While the new sentences may run concurrently with previous convictions, this ruling adds to the growing list of legal woes for Khan. He has been incarcerated since August 2023, serving a 14-year sentence related to a separate corruption case, a conviction that also resulted in a seven-year sentence for Bushra Bibi.
In a statement reported by Pakistani media outlet Dawn, Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand noted that the court considered the age of Imran Khan and the gender of Bushra Bibi when imposing a “lenient view” and a “lesser punishment.”
Pakistani law mandates that politicians return state gifts to the national treasury, although they are permitted to repurchase them. In the case of the Bulgari jewelry set, Khan and Bibi are alleged to have intentionally undervalued the items to minimize the amount they would have to pay to acquire them.
Beyond these corruption charges, Khan is also awaiting trial under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act. These charges stem from riots in 2023 that were linked to his initial arrest amid a litany of accusations, including illegally receiving land valued at $6.5 million and allegedly “deliberately concealing” the details and true worth of gifts from foreign dignitaries.