(Web Desk) – A special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday sentenced PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years’ imprisonment each in the Toshakhana-2 reference.
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The case relates to the alleged illegal purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set gifted to Imran Khan by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021. The prosecution maintained that the jewellery set, valued at around Rs80 million, was retained after paying only Rs2.9 million, causing significant loss to the national exchequer.
The verdict was announced by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during proceedings held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where Imran Khan is currently incarcerated.
According to the court order, Imran Khan was awarded a total of 17 years’ imprisonment, including 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under sections 34 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and seven years under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Bushra Bibi was also sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment under the same legal provisions.
The court further imposed a fine of Rs16.4 million on each of the convicts, with additional imprisonment stipulated in case of non-payment. The court granted the benefit of Section 382-B of the Criminal Procedure Code, allowing the period of detention already undergone to be counted towards the sentence.
In its order, the court noted that it had considered Imran Khan’s old age and Bushra Bibi’s status as a woman, and stated that a lenient view had been taken while awarding punishment.
Following the verdict, legal representatives of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi announced that they would challenge the decision before the relevant high court.
The couple was indicted in the case in December last year. During trial proceedings, both denied the allegations, calling the case politically motivated. In his statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Imran Khan rejected the prosecution’s claims, stating that the gift was reported, assessed, and retained in accordance with the Toshakhana Policy 2018 after due payment to the national exchequer.
Imran Khan has been in prison since August 2023 and is already serving a 14-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the May 9, 2023 protests. Bushra Bibi is serving a seven-year sentence in the same £190 million case.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik said the verdict was in line with the Constitution and law, rejecting claims of political victimisation. He stated that the court proceedings established that the jewellery set was undervalued and not deposited as required.
Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani also said the judgment followed lengthy legal proceedings and was similar in nature to the Toshakhana-I case, adding that the facts had now been established through the court’s ruling.
