Rawalpindi: A special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on December 20, Saturday sentenced former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of imprisonment in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case. The court verdict mentioned that the old age of Imran Khan, along with the fact that his wife Bushra Bibi is female, has resulted in a “lenient” and a lesser punishment. A penalty of Pakistani Rs 16.4 million was imposed on each of them. According to the verdict, a failure to pay the fines will result in additional jail term.
The court order copy further stated, “This court, while passing sentences has considered the old age of Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, as well as the fact that Bushra Imran Khan is a female. It is in consideration of both said factors that a lenient view has been taken in awarding lesser punishment”. The case involves the purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set which was gifted to Imran by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021 at a throwaway price. It further reported that the verdict was delivered by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during a hearing held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where Imran is imprisoned.
Imran was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison. He was awarded 10-year 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, as per the report by Dawn. It was futher noted that his wife, Bushra Bibi was also sentenced to a total of 17 years imprisonment under the same provisions. It added that the benefit of Section 382-B (period of detention to be considered while awarding sentence of imprisonment) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was “hereby given to the convicts”.
After the verdict, Imran and Bushra’s legal teams indicated their intention to challenge the decision before the High Court. The duo were indicted in the case last year in December. Dawn further noted that earlier this year in October, Imran and Bushra Bibi denied all allegations in case and termed it a fabricated and politically motivated attempt to disqualify the former Pak PM from politics. As per Dawn, recording his statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before a special court, Imran Khan had rejected the prosecution’s narrative in the case. He alleged that the entire case was “malicious, fabricated and politically engineered”.
He further contended that he did not qualify as a “public servant” under the Pakistan Penal Code, arguing that even in his capacity as Prime Minister, he was unaware of the specific details of the gift, which he said was presented to his wife. The PTI founder maintained that due process was followed in accordance with the Toshakhana Policy 2018 and said the gift was reported to the PM Office protocol section, assessed and legally retained after payment was deposited into the national exchequer. “We complied with the Toshakhana Policy in letter and spirit”, he said.
(With Inputs from ANI)
