Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi Get 14-Year Jail Term

“An accountability court sentenced former premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana case” Tribune Pakistan reported.

Authorities imprisoned the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi after a court found them guilty of illegally acquiring expensive gifts from the state treasury (Toshakhana) during their time in power.

The court announced the verdict a day after a special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, sentenced PTI founder Imran Khan to 10 years in the cipher case.

Meanwhile, the former prime minister’s wife, Bushra Bibi, surrendered to the court after announcing the verdict. The NAB team, already present in the jail where the hearing took place, took her into custody immediately afterward.

Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir conducted the hearing at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where the former prime minister was imprisoned. Besides sentencing the power-driven couple to 14 years in prison, the court also banned them from holding any public office for 10 years and imposed a fine of PKR 787 million on each of them.

Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi did not appear in front of the court on Wednesday.

What is the Toshakhana Case?

• Imran Khan, a former cricketer, politician, and former prime minister of Pakistan faced the allegations of hiding details about the presents he received from Toshakhana, a place where government officials store presents from foreign dignitaries. Although the law requires reporting these gifts, Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, purchased them at a reduced price.
• Among the gifts were expensive watches, including six Rolexes and a “Master Graff limited edition” watch valued at around $300,000
• Initially, the court sentenced Imran Khan to 10 years in the cipher case. Additionally, authorities imprisoned him for three years in a corruption case, which also disqualified him from holding any public office for five years.
• With such corruption and crimes by the politicians of Pakistan, the controversy raises concerns about Pakistan’s government transparency and accountability.

Related: “Project Tapestry” by Twitterific Creators Aggregates Sites