{"id":107873,"date":"2025-12-21T09:21:36","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T09:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=107873"},"modified":"2025-12-21T09:21:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T09:21:36","slug":"imran-khan-and-wife-given-further-jail-terms-after-state-gift-fraud-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=107873","title":{"rendered":"Imran Khan and wife given further jail terms after state gift fraud case"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 44 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to further jail terms following a fraud case involving state gifts.<\/p>\n

They were convicted of breaking Pakistan\u2019s rules on gifts after Bibi was given a luxury jewellery set by Saudi Arabia\u2019s Mohammed bin Salman during a 2021 state visit.<\/p>\n

The pair are already serving time in prison for earlier convictions, and the new sentences \u2013 10 years for criminal breach of trust and seven years for criminal misconduct, and a fine \u2013 will reportedly run concurrently to their earlier terms.<\/p>\n

Khan has described the charges as politically motivated and his lawyer told BBC News his team plan to challenge the verdict.<\/p>\n

Speaking to the BBC after the hearing, the former prime minister\u2019s lawyer, Salman Safdar, said Khan\u2019s legal team had only been informed about the sentencing late on Friday night, after normal court hours.<\/p>\n

They planned to mount a challenge to the verdict in the high court, Mr Safdar said.<\/p>\n

This case is the latest in a series of charges laid against the cricket star-turned-politician, who has been detained since August 2023.\u00a0In January, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison over a separate corruption case.<\/p>\n

He has faced charges inmore than 100 cases, ranging from leaking state secrets to selling state gifts. The BBC has been unable to confirm the exact number brought against him.<\/p>\n

The jewellery case, referred to as Toshakhana 2 in Pakistan, concerns a Bulgari jewellery set given to Bushra Bibi by Saudi Arabia\u2019s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a state visit in 2021, according to court documents.<\/p>\n

Under Pakistan\u2019s rules on state gifts, these items go to Pakistan\u2019s Toshakana department (state treasury), but politicians are able to purchase the items back.<\/p>\n

Khan is alleged to have asked a private firm to undervalue the jewellery set, before purchasing it back at a significantly reduced price.<\/p>\n

In addition to their jail terms, the pair were handed a fine of over 16 million Pakistani rupees (\u00a342,600).<\/p>\n

Khan was also convicted in an earlier, different Toshakhana case \u2013 but he challenged that conviction, meaning his sentence is suspended until the outcome of his appeal.<\/p>\n

He also has other cases outstanding against him.<\/p>\n

These include terrorism charges relating to violent protests that took place on 9 May 2023, when he was previously arrested.<\/p>\n

Khan was Pakistan\u2019s prime minister until April 2022 when he was ousted in a vote of no confidence.<\/p>\n

Although he has not been seen in public, his social media accounts have continued to operate with messages attributed to him on X often appearing after jail visits.<\/p>\n

These have been highly critical of Pakistan\u2019s current government and its politically powerful army\u00a0Chief Field Marshall Asim Munir, including posts calling him a tyrannical dictator.<\/p>\n

In November, he was denied any visitors for nearly a month.<\/p>\n

After campaigning by his family and party, his sister was allowed to visit in early December; a few hours after she saw him, his account posted a comment credited to Khan calling the Field Marshall Asim Munir a \u201cmentally unstable person\u201d.<\/p>\n

Khan, 73, has not been allowed any family visits since.<\/p>\n

The judgement states the judge was lenient in sentencing because of Khan\u2019s \u201cold age\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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