In a landmark ruling on Saturday, a Pakistani court sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case. The verdict, delivered at Rawalpindi’s high-security Adiala Jail, adds to a growing list of legal battles facing the 73-year-old political leader since his removal from office in April 2022.
The Toshakhana 2 case centers on allegations that Khan and Bushra Bibi sold state gifts, including luxury watches and diamond and gold jewellery sets received from the Saudi government in 2021, without depositing them into the official government repository.
Judge Shahrukh Arjumand handed down a sentence of 10 years under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, alongside an additional seven years under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Both were also fined PKR 16.4 million. The court noted that the age of Khan and the gender of Bushra Bibi were considered in delivering a comparatively lenient sentence.
During the trial, 21 witnesses presented evidence, and both Khan and Bushra were present when the judgment was announced. Khan, in a recorded statement, rejected all allegations, calling the case “malicious, fabricated, and politically engineered.”
The case, filed in July 2024, gained attention after the government highlighted discrepancies in the valuation of the gifts. According to Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, the true value of certain items was estimated at Rs 70 million, though they were allegedly purchased by the couple for only Rs 5.8-5.9 million.
The Toshakhana, part of Pakistan’s Cabinet Division, manages gifts given to government officials and provides regulated procedures for purchasing these items back. Failure to follow these rules led to the legal action against the former first couple.
Earlier bail proceedings saw Bushra Bibi released by the Islamabad High Court in October 2024, followed by Khan in November. However, both remained incarcerated in Adiala Jail due to other ongoing cases, including the Al-Qadir Trust case. An unannounced ban on Khan’s family visits has reportedly been in place for over a month, with his last visit on December 2 by his sister Uzma Khan. Authorities claim he remains in “good health.”
The ruling has drawn international attention. Last week, UN Special Rapporteur on torture Alice Jill Edwards urged the Pakistani government to improve detention conditions, warning that Khan’s solitary confinement could have serious consequences on his physical and mental health. Khan is reportedly not allowed outdoor activity, interaction with other prisoners, or participation in communal prayers.
Imran Khan, a celebrated former cricketer, served as Pakistan’s 19th prime minister from August 2018 until April 2022. His sentencing marks a significant moment in Pakistan’s political and judicial history, highlighting ongoing tensions between politics and the law in the country.
