A Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison each in a corruption case linked to the under-priced purchase of luxury state gifts, according to the court ruling and Khan’s legal team.
The verdict deepens Khan’s legal crisis as the former cricket star-turned-politician remains behind bars facing multiple convictions stemming from cases filed after his removal from office in 2022.
The special court of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) ruled that Khan and his wife violated state gift rules by purchasing luxury items—primarily high-value watches—at steeply discounted prices, causing financial losses to the government.
According to the verdict, the couple received 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Pakistan’s penal code for criminal breach of trust, along with an additional seven years under anti-corruption laws.
Khan’s family lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umer, criticized the proceedings, telling Reuters that the court announced the punishment “without hearing the defense” and imposed “heavy fines” alongside the prison terms.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Khan’s sentence from Saturday’s ruling would begin after he completes a separate 14-year term handed down earlier in a land graft case.
Khan has been in custody since August 2023 and is currently facing dozens of cases, including allegations involving corruption, state secrets, and anti-terrorism laws. He has denied all charges, while his party maintains the cases are politically motivated.
Prosecutors said the case centered on luxury watches gifted to Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during official visits while Khan was in office.
Authorities alleged that Khan and Bushra Bibi later acquired the items from the state at prices far below their market value, in violation of Pakistan’s regulations governing official gifts. Tarar said the transactions resulted in losses amounting to several million rupees for the public treasury.
Khan’s spokesman, Zulfi Bukhari, rejected the ruling, saying it “ignores basic principles of justice” and turns accountability into “a tool for selective prosecution.”
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Another defense lawyer, Salman Safdar, told reporters outside the jail complex—where the trial proceedings were held—that Khan has instructed his legal team to appeal the verdict at the Islamabad High Court, according to Geo News.
The case is separate from an earlier Toshakhana prosecution tied to Khan’s arrest in 2023. In that earlier matter, sentences of 14 years for Khan and seven years for Bushra Bibi were later suspended on appeal. Both continue to deny wrongdoing in all cases.
Following Saturday’s ruling, Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced plans to hold protests across Punjab province on Sunday.