ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana-II case on Saturday.
The judgment was announced by an accountability court, which also imposed a fine of Rs10 million on each of them, while the hearing was conducted by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.
The case pertains to the purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set, gifted to Imran by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit in May 2021, at a throwaway price. During the proceedings, the prosecution contended that the PTI founder retained the jewellery set, valued at approximately Rs80 million, after paying only Rs2.9m.
During the trial, evidence was recorded, statements under Section 342 were completed, and final arguments were heard before the verdict was announced.
The case had been adjourned three times after October 16.
The charges relate to a Bulgari jewellery set allegedly received during a 2021 visit of Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia, where it was gifted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Prosecutors said the gift was not deposited in the state’s Toshakhana, as required under the rules.
According to evidence presented in court, the jewellery set — gifted to the prime minister’s spouse — included a bracelet, ring, earrings and a necklace.
Court records stated that despite the set’s original value exceeding Rs71.5 million, it was evaluated through a private firm at a significantly lower value, with only Rs2.9 million paid.
The prosecution alleged misuse of authority to underestimate the value to meet legal requirements.
Records obtained from the Foreign Office and Pakistan’s embassy in Saudi Arabia indicated the set’s actual value was substantially higher, the court was told.
Barrister Salman Safdar appeared for Imran Khan, while Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi represented the prosecution team.
The PTI, in a post on X, said that Imran’s family was not allowed inside the jail, where a “kangaroo court announced the verdict of the Toshakhana 2 case”.
Later, while speaking to the media, Aleema criticised the verdict and alleged that decisions against Imran were being delivered under a pre-written script.
“Even at night, I felt they wanted to announce the verdict quickly, taking advantage of the foggy weather,” she remarked, questioning the logic behind the timing of the decision.
Aleema claimed that those behind the cases were “not intelligent people” and that she failed to understand their scripts.
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