A Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison after finding them guilty in a corruption case involving the sale of state gifts, marking another major legal setback for the jailed former leader.
The court ruled that Khan and his wife unlawfully retained, undervalued and sold gifts received from foreign dignitaries during his time in office, reports dw.com
Prosecutors said the items included high-value jewelry gifted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which the couple allegedly declared at far below their market value.
Under Pakistani law, officials may retain such gifts only by paying their full market price and properly declaring any proceeds.
Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since 2023 and faces multiple cases following his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
He has consistently denied the charges, describing them as politically motivated.
His lawyer confirmed that the verdict will be appealed, while Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party condemned the ruling as unfair.
The government, however, defended the court’s decision, saying due legal process had been followed.
