In a significant development in Islamabad, an accountability court handed down a 14-year jail sentence to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi. This ruling was part of the Toshakhana graft case, and the court session took place at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, where Imran Khan is presently detained. The court was led by Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir.
Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi also received a ten-year disqualification from holding any governmental positions. Additionally, they were ordered to pay a substantial fine of Rs787 million. It’s important to mention that Bushra Bibi was not present in court when the verdict was announced.
This sentence comes closely on the heels of another significant ruling. Just a day earlier, a special court under the Official Secrets Act sentenced both Imran Khan and his foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, to a decade in prison in a separate case, known as the cipher case.
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The charges leading to this latest verdict stemmed from allegations involving a jewelry set, reportedly a gift from the Saudi crown prince. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) claimed that the couple had undervalued this asset, prompting a new legal action against them last month.
Before this judgment, the court had wrapped up the testimonies from witnesses for the prosecution. Following this, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were asked to give their statements as per Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
This ruling has far-reaching implications, especially considering its timing. It was issued just eight days before the general elections scheduled for February 8. Imran Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is set to compete in these elections amid significant governmental pressure and without an official electoral symbol. The verdict’s timing is seen by many as a move that could significantly sway public opinion and impact the election results. This adds an extra layer of intrigue and potential turmoil to the already complex political scene in Pakistan, setting the stage for a highly charged and possibly transformative electoral process.
