Imran Khan sentenced to 14 years in prison
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi received prison sentences in a land corruption case, with Khan sentenced to 14 years and Bibi to 7 years. The verdict was delivered by an anti-graft court in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been detained since August 2023.
The case involves allegations that the couple received land valued at approximately $25 million from a real estate developer during Khan's premiership (2018-2022) in exchange for illegal favors. The land, connected to the Al-Qadir Trust, was reportedly worth seven billion rupees. Prosecutors claimed the trust was a front for receiving illegal property transfers, including 60 acres near Islamabad and another plot near Khan's mansion.
Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party maintains the land was intended for educational and spiritual purposes rather than personal gain. Party chairman Gohar Khan denounced the verdict as political victimization, announcing plans to appeal in the Islamabad High Court.
The timing of the verdict is significant, as it follows recent reconciliation talks between PTI and the government, and comes after PTI's strong performance in the 2024 general election, where party candidates, running as independents, won the most seats but fell short of a majority.
Khan, 72, currently faces multiple legal challenges, including charges of graft, misuse of power, and inciting violence against the state following his removal from office in April 2022. While he has been acquitted or had sentences suspended in most cases, this conviction and another related to the May 9, 2023 protests remain in effect.
The court ordered the confiscation of the disputed land.
The case has sparked protests from Khan's supporters and family members outside the prison, highlighting ongoing political tensions in Pakistan.
