Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi received a 14-year jail sentence on Wednesday. They were found guilty of corruption involving gifts received during his tenure as premier. This verdict, just a week before national elections, follows a previous 10-year sentence for Khan related to leaking secrets of the State.
Expressing dismay, a spokesperson for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI party lamented, “Another sad day in our judicial system history, which is being dismantled.”
The specifics of whether Khan’s sentences will run consecutively or concurrently remain unclear, following a trial conducted within the confines of the jail where he has been detained since his August arrest. Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, confirmed both Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced with Bibi, a faith healer who married Khan in 2018, currently on remand.
As Pakistan prepares for national elections next Thursday, approximately 127 million eligible voters remain embroiled in debates despite Khan and PTI’s diminished presence amidst allegations of rigging and a massive crackdown on the party.
Since his ousting in 2022, Khan has faced a barrage of court cases, which he claims are politically motivated to prevent his return to power after challenging Pakistan’s military establishment, which he accuses of orchestrating his removal.
Khan’s arrest in May last year sparked nationwide riots, but subsequent military actions, including mass detentions and trials, have subdued his once-formidable street support.
In a defiant statement following his 10-year sentence, Khan urged his followers to use their vote as a tool of retribution on February 8, asserting, “Tell them that we are not sheep that can be driven with a stick.”
