Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment each on Saturday after a special court found them guilty in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case. The verdict was delivered inside Rawalpindi’s high security Adiala Jail, where Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023.
The case relates to allegations of misuse and illegal sale of state gifts received from the Saudi government in 2021.
According to the prosecution, valuable items including luxury watches and diamond and gold jewellery sets were not deposited in the Toshakhana, the official state repository for gifts received by public office holders.
Special court judge Shahrukh Arjumand announced that both Khan and Bushra Bibi were awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, along with an additional seven years under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The court also imposed a fine of PKR 16.4 million on each of them.
In its judgment, the court stated that a relatively lenient view was taken while determining the punishment, considering Khan’s age and the fact that Bushra Bibi is a woman. The benefit of Section 382 B of the Criminal Procedure Code was also extended, allowing the period already spent in detention to be counted towards their sentences.
A total of 21 witnesses were examined during the trial. Both Khan and his wife were present when the verdict was announced. In his statement recorded under Section 342 of the CrPC, Khan rejected all charges and described the case as malicious, fabricated, and politically motivated.
The case was registered in July 2024, following claims that the former first couple sold state gifts without following mandatory legal procedures. Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani stated that the gifts were never deposited in the Toshakhana, despite legal obligations to do so. He further claimed that one jewellery set with an actual value of around Rs 70 million was undervalued at approximately Rs 5.8 million, allowing it to be purchased at a fraction of its real worth.
The Toshakhana operates under the Cabinet Division and is responsible for safeguarding gifts presented to rulers and senior officials by foreign governments and dignitaries.
Such gifts can only be retained or purchased by recipients after depositing them and following prescribed valuation and payment rules.
Although both Khan and Bushra Bibi were granted bail in this case by the Islamabad High Court in late 2024, they continued to remain in custody due to their earlier conviction in the Al Qadir Trust case. They were formally indicted in the Toshakhana 2 matter in December last year, and the trial proceedings were conducted inside Adiala Jail.
Both convicts have the option to challenge the verdict before the High Court. Meanwhile, an unannounced restriction on meetings with Khan has reportedly been in place for over a month. Jail authorities maintain that he is in good health, despite concerns raised by family members and international observers.
Last week, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, urged the Pakistan government to address reports of inhumane detention conditions faced by Khan. She called for an immediate end to his solitary confinement, warning that prolonged isolation could severely impact his physical and mental health. Reports suggest that Khan has limited access to outdoor activity, communal prayers, and regular meetings with lawyers and family members.
Imran Khan served as Pakistan’s 19th prime minister from August 2018 until his removal from office in April 2022, after which he has faced a series of legal challenges that continue to shape the country’s political landscape.
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