ISLAMABAD — A special court on Saturday sentenced former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana 2 case, which involves the alleged illegal purchase of state gifts at a steeply undervalued price.
Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand announced the verdict during proceedings held inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is currently incarcerated.
The case centres on an expensive Bulgari jewellery set gifted to Imran Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an official visit in May 2021. Prosecutors said the set, valued at around Rs80 million, was retained by Khan after paying only Rs2.9 million, in violation of state rules governing gifts deposited in the Toshakhana, the government’s gift repository.
Imran Khan was sentenced to a total of 17 years’ imprisonment:
- 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Sections 34 (common intention) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Pakistan Penal Code, and
- seven years under Section 5(2) (criminal misconduct by public servants) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Bushra Bibi received the same combined sentence under the same legal provisions.
The court also imposed fines of Rs16.4 million on each of them. Failure to pay would result in additional jail time. The court granted them the benefit of Section 382-B of the Criminal Procedure Code, allowing time already spent in custody to be counted toward their sentences.
In its order, the court said it had considered Khan’s age and Bushra Bibi’s status as a woman while awarding what it described as a comparatively lenient sentence.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were indicted in December last year and denied the charges in October, calling the case fabricated and politically motivated.
Khan has been in custody since August 2023 and is currently serving a 14-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case. He also faces trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to protests on May 9, 2023. Bushra Bibi is serving a seven-year sentence in the same £190 million case.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan’s new sentence would begin after completion of his existing term in the £190 million case, making it a consecutive sentence.
PTI rejects verdict
PTI strongly condemned the ruling, calling it the outcome of a “kangaroo court.” In a post on X, the party said Khan’s family was barred from entering the jail during the hearing and alleged the trial was neither free nor fair.
Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, said family members were stopped from proceeding to the jail and described the verdict as scripted. Speaking to reporters later, she alleged the decision had been pre-written and questioned the timing of the ruling.
“Our patience and the patience of the people has run out,” she said, warning that the public would no longer tolerate what she called political victimization.
PTI leader Salman Akram Raja said the case relied on weak evidence and promissory notes, claiming there were no credible witnesses. Omar Ayub, another senior party leader, said the judgment showed there was “no rule of law in Pakistan.”
In a detailed statement, PTI’s central media department termed the verdict “unconstitutional, illegal and ill-intended,” alleging that defence lawyers were not present when the decision was announced and that the trial violated basic judicial standards. The party also argued the sentence amounted to double jeopardy.
Government defends ruling
Government ministers defended the judgment, insisting it was based on evidence and law.
Speaking to Geo News, Tarar said Khan and Bushra Bibi had committed fraud by getting the jewellery undervalued and retaining it for personal use.
“They had no right to harm the exchequer and keep state gifts,” he said, adding that the verdict was “fair and grounded in justice.”
Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik said the ruling was in line with the Constitution, stressing that violations of law must carry consequences regardless of political standing.
Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani said the case followed a pattern similar to Toshakhana-I, arguing that the gift was never properly deposited as required and was later bought at a “throwaway” price.
Prime Minister’s adviser Rana Sanaullah also said state gifts belonged to the government, not individuals, and that the case against Khan was fully documented.
Background
The Toshakhana rules require officials to declare gifts received from foreign dignitaries and deposit them with the state, with an option to purchase them at assessed market value under specific conditions. Prosecutors say Khan and his wife violated these rules by having the jewellery undervalued and retaining it.
The verdict adds to a growing list of convictions against the former prime minister, deepening Pakistan’s political polarization as PTI continues to allege political persecution and the government maintains the cases are based on accountability and the rule of law.