ISLAMABAD: A special court in Pakistan on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison each after convicting them in a corruption case involving the misuse of public office.
The case relates to the purchase of a luxury Bulgari jewellery set at a heavily discounted price.
The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during a hearing held inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where Imran Khan is currently incarcerated in connection with other cases.
Khan was sentenced to a combined 17 years in prison, receiving 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, and seven years under Section 5(2)(47) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which deals with criminal misconduct by public servants.
His wife, Bushra Bibi, was handed an identical sentence of 17 years’ imprisonment under the same legal provisions.
The court also imposed fines of 16.4 million Pakistani rupees on each of the two. Under Pakistani law, failure to pay the fines would result in additional jail time.
Following the verdict, lawyers for Khan and Bushra Bibi said they would challenge the ruling before a high court.
Both Khan and his wife are already in custody in separate cases. They were formally indicted in the jewellery reference case in December last year.
Detailed judgement
In its detailed judgement, a copy of which is available with WE News English, the court stated the prosecution had proved its case against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on the basis of documentary evidence and arguments presented during the trial.
The court held that the prosecution produced “directly relevant, reliable and cogent evidence”, establishing that both accused committed criminal breach of trust in furtherance of a common intention, in violation of Sections 34 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), and jointly committed criminal misconduct under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) 1947, read with Section 109 of the PPC.
On the first charge of criminal breach of trust with common intention under Sections 34 and 409 PPC, the court convicted Imran Khan and sentenced him to 10 years’ simple imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs16,425,650, with an additional six months’ simple imprisonment in case of default.
On the second charge of criminal misconduct under Section 5(2) of the PCA 1947, the court sentenced Khan to a further seven years’ simple imprisonment.
On the same first charge under Sections 34 and 409 PPC, Bushra Bibi was also convicted and sentenced to 10 years’ simple imprisonment. She was fined Rs16,425,650, with a further six months’ simple imprisonment in the event of non-payment.
On the second charge of acting jointly towards the commission of criminal misconduct under Section 109 PPC, read with Section 5(2) of the PCA 1947, the court sentenced Bushra Bibi to seven years’ simple imprisonment.
The judgement stated that the court had taken into account Imran Khan’s age and the fact that Bushra Bibi is a woman while determining the sentences, adding that a lenient view had been adopted in awarding lesser punishment.
The court also extended the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure to both convicts, allowing the period already spent in custody to be counted towards their sentences.
Ik tk 2 judgment _compressed (1)What is the corruption case against Imran Khan?
According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) records, the Bulgari jewellery set was valued at over Rs 71 million. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the record.
According to the prosecution, the accused persons had it appraised at only Rs 5.9 million by a private firm. The set included a necklace, bracelet, ring, and earrings. The gift was neither deposited in Toshakhana nor correctly valued.
The valuation was conducted by private appraiser Sohaib Abbasi and later by customs officials, with undue influence allegedly exerted by the former principal secretary, Inam Shah, to undervalue the set.
The Toshakhana-2 case, involving Imran Khan and his spouse, began on July 13, 2024, when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) took both into custody at Adiala jail. They remained in NAB’s custody for 37 days before the investigation was completed. On August 20, 2024, NAB filed a reference in the accountability court regarding the case.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision pertaining to NAB amendments, the case was transferred to the FIA Anti-Corruption Court on September 9, 2024. The FIA included charges under Section 5 of the PCA, 1947, and Section 409 of the PPC.
The trial formally began on September 16, 2024, with Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand presiding over the first hearing at Adiala jail. Bushra Bibi was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court on October 23, 2024, and released the following day.
Imran Khan also received bail on November 20, 2024. On December 12, 2024, formal charges were framed against both accused. The trial continued for nearly a year, with over 80 hearings conducted at Adiala Jail.
The prosecution recorded statements of 24 witnesses, completing cross-examinations of 20 key witnesses. Notable witnesses included private appraiser Sohaib Abbasi and Imran Khan’s former principal secretary, Inamullah.
