A Pakistani court has sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison each in a corruption case for illegally holding and selling luxury state gifts, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
Khan has been in prison since August 2023 and, in addition to the latest sentence, faced dozens of other cases, including charges of corruption and violating state secrets. The former prime minister, who lost power in 2022, denies all charges, and his party claims the trials are politically motivated.
A lawyer for Khan and Bibi told Reuters that the court handed down the sentence without hearing the defense arguments. The two were sentenced to 10 years in prison for criminal breach of trust under the Penal Code, to which were added another seven years under anti-corruption laws, as well as a substantial fine.
The case involved the illegal retention and sale of state gifts, including expensive watches received from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In another case with a similar subject in 2023, Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison and his wife to seven years in prison, but these sentences were later overturned on appeal.
Imran Khan, a former international cricketer turned politician, remains one of the most polarizing figures in Pakistan. His party, the Pakistan Justice Movement, is out of power while he continues his legal battles.