ISLAMABAD -An accountability court on Wednesday sentenced the former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana case.
The PTI founder has also been disqualified for 10 years while a fine of Rs1.573 billion has also been imposed on the couple.
During the hearing, Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir inquired Khan about submitting his statement under Section 342. At which, the former premier said he had prepared his statement and would submit it after the arrival of his lawyers. The PTI founder later walked off the courtroom.
Later, the judge directed the jail authorities to ask Khan to appear before the court. However, the jail officials informed the judge that the PTI founder was not ready to come to the courtroom.
Earlier this month, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had been formally charged in the Toshakhana case. The hearing took place in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, where the court has framed individual charges against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in connection with the Toshakhana case.
What is the Toshakhana Case?
Imran Khan is accused of obtaining valuable gifts from Toshakahan at reduced prices during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and then selling those gifts for $635,000.
The gifts received by Imran Khan include a valuable wrist watch from Saudi Arabia featuring a model of Holy Kaaba in it. The value of the watch was estimated at more than 600 million in the international market.
On October 21, 2022, the Election Commission of Pakistan found the PTI founder guilty in the Toshakhana case, saying he had submitted false statements regarding the gifts and assets under Article 63(1) of the Constitution.
Later, a petition was filed in the session court by the election watchdog, seeking to initiate criminal proceedings against the former PTI chief.
On May 10, 2023, the trial court found Imran Khan guilty of providing incorrect information, but on July 4, the Islamabad High Court declared the session court’s decision void, directing the trial court to decide the case again.
On August 5, 2023, the local court sentenced Imran Khan to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case. However, on December 21, the Islamabad High Court, in its verdict, suspended the sentence but maintained his disqualification.
Sentence in Cipher Case
A day earlier, a special court, established under Official Secrets Act, convicted PTI founder Imran Khan and his deputy Shah Mahmood Qureshi in cipher case.
Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain has awarded ten years imprisonment to the the former prime minister and ex-foreign minister each during hearing of the case at the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.
The judge had provided a questionnaire to both political leaders to record their statements under Section 342. Both PTI bigwigs submitted their response to 36 questions to the court.
Before handing down the sentence, the judge asked Imran Khan about the whereabouts of the cipher, which PTI founder has been claimed carried evidence of US conspiracy behind toppling of his government.
To which, the former premier said the cipher was not in possession, adding that the security of the Prime Minister’s House was not his responsibility.
Later, the court awarded the jail sentence after finding the guilty in the case.
