Pakistani Court Convicts Ex-PM Imran Khan in Landmark Graft Case

Former Prime Minister Receives 14-Year Sentence, Wife Gets 7 Years

Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison by a Pakistani court. His wife, Bushra Bibi, has been sentenced to 7 years. The convictions come in a landmark graft case involving the Al-Qadir Trust, a welfare foundation established by the couple.

Imran Khan has been held in custody since August 2023, charged with over 200 cases. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has claimed that the latest conviction was being used to pressure him into silence.

The anti-graft court, which convened in the jail near the capital Islamabad where Khan is being held, convicted him and his wife along with the trust. Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the sentence, stating that “the prosecution has proven its case. Khan is convicted.”

Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, who was recently released on bail, was arrested at the court after the conviction, according to her spokesman, Mashal Yousafzai.

Imran Khan maintained that the cases are politically motivated and designed to keep him from returning to power. In an interview with reporters inside the courtroom, he said, “I will neither make any deal nor seek any relief.”

Khan has been previously handed four convictions, two of which have been overturned while the sentences in the other two cases were suspended. However, he remained in prison over pending cases.

A UN panel of experts found last year that Khan’s detention “had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for political office.” Khan was barred from standing in February’s election, and his PTI party was hamstrung by a widespread crackdown.

Imran Khan’s conviction and sentencing mark a significant development in his ongoing legal saga. While he maintains that the cases are political, the outcome is likely to have significant implications for his political future.

Q: Who is Imran Khan?
A: Imran Khan is a former Prime Minister of Pakistan, who served from 2018 to 2022.

Q: What was he convicted of?
A: Khan was convicted of corruption related to the Al-Qadir Trust, a welfare foundation established by him and his wife.

Q: How many years was he sentenced to?
A: Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while his wife received a 7-year sentence.

Q: Does he plan to appeal the verdict?
A: Khan has already stated that he will not accept any deal and will not seek relief, which suggests that he may appeal the verdict.