Ex-Pak PM Imran Khan and wife jailed for 14 years in Toshakhana corruption case
According to Pakistan's Dawn, Ex-PM and wife were also hit with a hefty punishment of Rs 787 million.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were convicted to a 14-year jail term with heavy penalties worth Rs 787 million on Wednesday in the controversial Toshakhana case, in yet another startling revelation that rocked Pakistan’s political scene.
Court Decisions and Sanctions
In a landmark decision, an accountability court in Islamabad not only found Khan and Bibi guilty but also prohibited them from holding public office for ten years. According to Pakistan’s Dawn, they were also hit with a hefty punishment of Rs 787 million.
This decision came soon after a major verdict that was rendered the day before, in which Khan and his Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, were found guilty of violating state secrets and sentenced to ten years in jail. These judicial declarations came only days before the vital general elections that were set for February 8 amid high levels of anxiety.
What exactly is the Toshakhana case?
A subject of intense legal investigation, the Toshakhana case is based on accusations made by Pakistan’s coalition government, led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The charges centred on Khan’s alleged inability to provide full disclosure about the gifts received through Toshakhana and the suspected selling of certain things in secret.
Under Pakistan’s cabinet division, Toshakhana is the agency responsible for storing gifts and jewels given to officials. Officials are required to disclose any presents they receive to the department.
Khan is said to have received an abundance of presents while serving as prime minister, but he chose not to reveal specifics because of possible diplomatic fallout. Marriyum Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Minister of Information, claimed, however, that Khan made a sizable profit from the selling of gifts from the government.
Legal Action And Judgement
The judicial spectacle began when Pakistan’s anti-corruption court indicted Khan earlier this month on allegations brought up by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Khan, who was already serving a prison sentence related to the Al-Qadir Trust case, became even more entangled in legal complications.
In a written statement presented to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in September 2023, Khan admitted to selling various gifts obtained during his reign, including transactions worth millions. In October of the same year, the ECP disqualified him from the assembly for a five-year period based on his admission and further investigations.
Khan’s once-dominant position is severely diminishing as the political landscape continues to tremble due to judicial entanglements, and concerns about Pakistan’s governance’s future continue to exist.
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