A special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday awarded long jail sentences to PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana-II case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The Toshakhana-II case pertained to the purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set at a throwaway price.
The court verdict was pronounced by Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand during a hearing held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.
The PTI founder was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison; he was awarded 10-year rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) and seven years under Section 5(2)47 (criminal misconduct by public servants) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi was also sentenced to a total of 17 years’ imprisonment under the same provisions.
Both of them were also slapped with Rs16.4 million fines. As per the law, a failure to pay the fines will result in additional jail time.
The court order said, “This court, while passing sentences has considered the old age of Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, as well as the fact that Bushra Imran Khan is a female. It is in consideration of both said factors that a lenient view has been taken in awarding lesser punishment.”
FIA Prosecutor Barrister Umair Majeed, Deputy Director FIA Afzal Khan, Barristers Shahroz Gilani and Bilal Khosa were in the courtroom when the decision was unveiled.
The last hearing of the Toshakhana-II case was held on October 16 at Adiala Jail. After October 16, the hearing of the case had been adjourned three times.
Imran Khan and Bushra were indicted in the case in December 2024. Earlier in October this year, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had denied all allegations, terming it a fabricated and politically motivated attempt to disqualify him from politics.
Imran Khan, imprisoned since August 2023, is serving a 14-year sentence at the Adiala jail in a £190 million corruption case and also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023. Bushra Bibi is also serving a seven-year sentence in £190 million corruption case.
Trial was neither ‘free nor fair’
The PTI, in a post on X, said that Imran Khan’s family was not allowed inside the jail, where a “kangaroo court announced the verdict”.
The party said “A closed-door jail trial is neither free nor fair; it is in fact a military trial.”
The party said it also shared a video of Imran’s sister Aleema Khan inside a car asking why she was not being allowed to proceed further. “They can’t stop us. The jail trial is today,” she said in the video, adding it was “illegal” that the family was being stopped.
Minister terms verdict as per law
Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik maintained that the verdict against Imran Khan and wife was “in line with the Constitution and the law”.
Talking to a private TV channel, the minister stressed “There was no political side to this, if you violate the law, it is clear that a punishment is expected.”
“During the trial that went on for 15-16 months, it was proven that PTI founder and his wife caused the national exchequer significant harm as the set’s valuation was under-reported,” Malik said and added “The gift was not even submitted.”
Case details
According to the challan of the case, Bushra Bibi was gifted a Bulgarian jewellerry set by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during her visit to Saudi Arabia from May 7 to May 10, 2021. The jewellery set included a ring, a bracelet, a necklace and a pair of earrings.
The PTI founder and Bushra Bibi kept these jewellery items illegally.
On May 18, 2021, the Deputy Military Secretary informed the section officer of Toshakhana about the estimated value of the set which was not deposited in Toshakhana as per the law.
On May 25, 2021, the necklace was sold to Saudi franchisee Seljuant Trading for 300,000 euros and the earrings for 80,000 euros. Information regarding the price of the bracelet and ring could not be found.
Total estimated value of the jewellery set was Rs75,661,600. The necklace was worth Rs56,496,000 and the earrings were worth Rs15,065,600.
According to Toshakhana rules, this set could have been retained by paying 50 percent of the amount. The amount payable should have been Rs35,765,800.
The national exchequer suffered a loss of Rs32,851,300 due to understating the price, the challan said, adding the PTI founder misused his powers as the prime minister.
Imran Khan kept 58 of the 108 gifts received during his tenure, challan said.
Total 22 witnesses were included in the Toshakhana-II case with Section Officer Toshakhana Cabinet Division Benjamin topped the list of witnesses. Protocol Officer Talat Mahmood, Additional Director NAB Qaiser Mahmood were also among the witnesses.
Former Personal Secretary Inamullah Shah, Assistant Director Mufa Muhammad Fahim and former Military Secretary Brigadier Muhammad Ahmed were also among the witnesses. Director NAB Shafqat Mahmood and Investigation Officer Muhammad Mohsin Haroon were also among the witnesses.
Reporter Ershad Qureshi