Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi sentenced to 14 years in Toshakhana reference

In yet another setback for Imran Khan and his party, the ex-premier and his spouse Bushra Bibi were handed a 14-year prison sentence on Wednesday in the Toshakhana case.

Previously, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lodged a new reference against the couple last month in an accountability court, for keeping a jewelry set gifted by the Saudi crown prince, which was assessed below its actual value.

In Islamabad, the accountability court indicted Imran and Bushra earlier this month in the reference case. According to the allegations made by the anti-graft watchdog, during his time as prime minister, Imran and his wife accepted a total of 108 gifts from various heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

The judgment was issued just eight days prior to the general elections on February 8, in which the PTI is participating despite a state-led crackdown and the absence of an electoral symbol.

Today’s conviction is Imran’s third. A day earlier, a special court established under the Official Secrets Act sentenced Imran and his foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to 10 years in prison for the breach of state secrets.

According to the verdict delivered today, Imran and Bushra were barred from holding any public office for 10 years and slapped with a fine of Rs787 million each. While the PTI founder was presented during the hearing, his wife did not appear before the court.

The judge had already closed the right of cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses and asked Imran and his spouse to record their statements under Section 342 (power to examine the accused) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.