Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, received a seven-year sentence, following a corruption case related to a parcel of land. The sentencing has sparked controversy, with Khan vehemently denying the charges and claiming that the ruling is politically motivated.
Khan, 72, has been incarcerated since 2023 and has continuously asserted his innocence. He argues that both he and his wife are being unfairly targeted due to their political influence. The case centers around accusations that Khan and his wife received a land gift from Malik Riaz Hussain, one of Pakistan’s wealthiest men, in exchange for favoring his business interests during Khan’s time as prime minister, from 2018 to 2022.
Prosecutors claim that the land, worth millions of dollars, was provided to the Al-Qadir Trust, a non-governmental organization founded by Khan and his wife in 2018. While the authorities allege that the couple personally benefitted from this land deal, Khan and his wife maintain that the only beneficiary was their trust, which runs a university near Islamabad focused on spirituality and Islamic teachings.
In exchange for the land, prosecutors assert that Khan’s government allowed Hussain to pay off fines owed to a Pakistani court using a £190 million pot of money, which had been returned to Pakistan by the UK. The funds were seized from Hussain by British authorities in 2019 following a money laundering probe and were later returned to Pakistan for deposit into the national exchequer.
Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has announced its intention to appeal the verdict, calling the case “bogus.” Senior PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan stated that the party would challenge the decision in an appeals court. Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the ruling, stating that there was “irrefutable evidence” against Khan and his wife in what he termed a “mega corruption scandal.”
The ruling has exacerbated the political instability in Pakistan. Large protests erupted in May 2023 following Khan’s arrest, and his supporters continue to call for his release. Some gathered outside Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, where Khan is currently being held, after the sentencing. Khan’s wife, who had been on bail, was also taken into custody after the verdict.
This sentencing came a day after PTI leaders met with current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the possibility of freeing Khan and other party members. The case remains a key point of contention, reflecting ongoing tensions within Pakistan’s political landscape.
