A special court on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years’ imprisonment each after finding them guilty in a corruption case linked to state gifts.
According to the verdict issued by Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, Imran Khan was awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 for criminal breach of trust, along with an additional seven years under Section 5/2/47 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Bushra Bibi received the same combined sentence under identical provisions.
The court noted that formal charges were framed against both accused in December last year. The case, commonly known as Toshakhana-II, revolves around allegations that a high-value Bulgari jewelry set was acquired at a substantially reduced price.
The inquiry into the matter began on January 7, 2024, and was completed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on July 12. Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were arrested the following day, while the reference was filed on August 20. After a Supreme Court ruling in September, the case was transferred between NAB and the FIA before returning to a special court following the restoration of NAB amendments.
Prosecution witnesses began recording statements in September, and the Islamabad High Court granted bail to the accused in October 2024 under Section 4-A.
The allegations state that the accused retained gifted items—including diamond earrings, a necklace, rings, and watches—after having their value assessed at lower rates. NAB investigated four jewelry items, two of which were valued at 380,000 euros, equivalent to over Rs71 million at 2021 market rates. It is alleged that two items were acquired by paying Rs2.9 million against an assessed value of Rs5.8 million.
