Imran Khan was sentenced to fourteen years in prison on Wednesday for illegal sale of state gifts. On Tuesday, a Pakistani court sentenced the former Pakistani prime minister to ten years in prison on charges of leaking state secrets.
Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, was also sentenced to fourteen years in prison. According to the Pakistani judge, Khan sold state gifts for his own gain. This includes jewelry and watches donated to Pakistan by the Saudi government.
His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said Khan will also be banned from holding any political office for 10 years. Khan's team described the conviction as a “sad day for the rule of law in Pakistan.” According to his lawyer, the ruling was hasty and the judge did not wait for Khan's lawyer to arrive in court. The former prime minister believes that the charges against him are politically motivated.
Khan was sentenced on Tuesday to ten years in prison for leaking a secret encrypted message from the Pakistani ambassador in Washington. according to BBC News Khan can serve his prison sentences at the same time.
Khan has been involved in numerous lawsuits since his ouster
Khan served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022. He was removed after a vote of no confidence in Parliament. The former politician claims that he is the victim of a conspiracy between the American and Pakistani military leadership.
Since 2022, Khan has been involved in multiple lawsuits. In August 2023, he was arrested and initially sentenced to three years in prison. That sentence was suspended, but Khan remained in custody on the other charges. His wife is still at large, but went to prison on Wednesday after being convicted.
These condemnations come ahead of the Pakistani elections that will be held on February 8. Khan was unable to participate due to his conviction in August, but he remains very popular among residents.
