Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan and his wife jailed 14 years for corruption

31 January 2024 , 08:42

376     0

Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were hit with a 14-year prison sentence today (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A former Prime Minister of Pakistan has been sentenced to 14 years in jail, along with his wife.

Just a day after Imran Khan received a ten-year jail sentence for leaking state secrets, he was this morning slapped with a 14 year jail sentence along with his wife Bushra Bibi. This was linked to a corruption case - but Khan, the cricketer-turned-populist-politician insists the cases against him are politically motivated ahead of the upcoming elections in the country.

This marks Khan’s third conviction since he was ousted from power in 2022 and the sentences, along with the three-year one he is currently serving, will run concurrently. In the most recent case, Khan and his wife were accused of retaining and selling state gifts when he was in power.

The court also disqualified Khan for holding any public office for ten years. Khan’s lawyer Babar Awan said the former premier was convicted in such a hurry that the judge didn’t even wait for his legal team to arrive. Mr Awan added that Khan’s basic human rights had been violated and that he’d challenge it in the higher courts. "It seems the judge was in a hurry to announce the verdict," he said.

Zulfiqar Bukhari, the chief spokesperson for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, also confirmed the conviction and sentencing. This comes after, just yesterday, Khan was hit with a ten-year prison sentence for leaking state secrets. The conviction was in relation to what is popularly known as the Cipher case and a diplomatic cable Khan claims proved his allegations he was ousted by a conspiracy.

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

The government has cracked down on the PTI party, including reportedly barring them from holding public gatherings, forcibly changing their symbol, and having key candidates disqualified or jailed, according to the Independent.

Pakistan’s independent human rights commission has said there is little chance of a free and fair parliamentary election next month because of "pre-poll rigging." It also expressed concern about authorities rejecting the candidacies of Khan and senior figures from his party.

The cricketer-turned-politician enjoys widespread support even as he can't run for office (AFP via Getty Images)

In a statement, Mr Bukhari said Khan's latest conviction and sentencing was "another sad day in our judicial system history which is being dismantled." Khan and Mrs Bibi were indicted three weeks ago on corruption charges for holding onto state gifts including jewellery and watches from Saudi Arabia's government, authorities said. They pleaded not guilty.

Bibi was absent when the judge announced the verdict but later went to the court to avoid being arrested. She will be handed over to prison officials to serve her sentence. Khan briefly attended Wednesday's hearing but left the courtroom when the judge was about to read the verdict. He said he could not remain there without his lawyer and asked the judge to wait. His request was denied.

Khan's supporters recently clashed with police at a series of rallies (AFP via Getty Images)

Awan, his lawyer, said that the former premier was being side-lined ahead of the vote next week, but his party remains popular, with a strong grassroots following Khan was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April 2022. Despite his convictions and sentencing, he remains popular and recently his supporters clashed with police during a series of nationwide rallies.

Pakistan has a history of arresting former prime ministers or side-lining them ahead of elections if they are deemed to pose a challenge to the security establishment. In 2018, three-time premier and Khan's rival Nawaz Sharif was hobbled by legal cases and prison sentences. Khan's party won the polls and formed a coalition government.

This time around, Sharif has a clear path to a fourth term in office after the Supreme Court acquitted him on all charges and scrapped a lifetime ban on politicians with criminal convictions from contesting elections.

Kieren Williams