Imran Khan, wife sentenced to 14 years in alleged land corruption case
3 Min Read
The verdict, which marks the largest financial wrongdoing case against Khan, was delivered by an anti-graft court in a prison in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023.
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party activists and supporters protest the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Karachi, Pakistan, on August 27, 2023. (AFP)
A Pakistani court sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan to 14 years in prison on Friday in a land corruption case, according to ARY News.
The verdict, which marks the largest financial wrongdoing case against Khan, was delivered by an anti-graft court in a prison in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023.
Khan, 72, was charged along with his wife, Bushra Bibi, with allegedly receiving land as a gift from a real estate developer during his time in office from 2018 to 2022 in exchange for illegal favors.
Both Khan and his wife denied the charges. The verdict, which had been delayed three times, was most recently postponed on Monday amid ongoing discussions between the government and Khan's party.
Bushra Bibi, who had been out on bail, was taken into custody after being convicted as well, Geo News reported.
Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), issued a statement saying, "Whilst we wait for the detailed decision, it's important to note that the Al Qadir Trust case against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi lacks any solid foundation and is bound to collapse."
The big picture
This ruling represents the most significant blow to Khan and his party since the 2024 general election, where, despite a strong performance by independent candidates, they failed to secure enough seats to form a government.
Khan, who has been jailed since August 2023, faces numerous cases, including charges of corruption, abuse of power, and inciting violence after being ousted from office in April 2022. He has been acquitted or had sentences suspended in most cases, except for one involving incitement of violence during protests on May 9, 2023, against his arrest.
The former prime minister has been tried inside prison due to security concerns.
It is worth noting that authorities have registered over 150 cases against him, including charges of inciting violence, and his troubles only intensified after his arrest in May 2023.
The allegations against Khan originated when he revealed a confidential document during a rally, emphasizing it as evidence of threats and asserting a US conspiracy in his ousting.
The document, known as Cipher, has not been publicly disclosed by the government or Khan's lawyers but is purportedly diplomatic correspondence between the Pakistani Ambassador to Washington and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
