Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Sentenced in Corruption Case

Synopsis

Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to jail in a corruption case involving the Al-Qadir University Project Trust. Khan received a 14-year sentence while Bibi got 7 years. Both were fined and face further penalties if they don't pay.

Key Takeaways

Imran Khan sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Bushra Bibi sentenced to 7 years.
Case involves £190 million Al-Qadir University Project Trust.
Fines imposed: Rs 1 million for Imran, Rs 500,000 for Bushra.
Verdict announced in a makeshift courtroom at Adiala Jail.

Islamabad, Jan 17 (NationPress) The former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, along with his spouse, Bushra Bibi, has been found guilty in the £190 million Al-Qadir University Project Trust case on Friday. Imran Khan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Bushra Bibi will serve seven years.

The ruling was delivered by Judge Nasir Javed Rana in a temporary courtroom set up at Adiala Jail. The court also levied fines amounting to Rs 1 million on Imran and Rs 500,000 on Bushra.

Should they fail to pay the fines, an extra six months of incarceration will be imposed. This verdict came amid heightened security around Adiala Jail, and Bushra Bibi was detained in the courtroom following the announcement.

The couple faced formal charges in this case on February 27, 2024, soon after the general elections.

Before the hearing, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan spoke to the media outside Adiala Jail, asserting, “One can only imagine the injustice that has unfolded over the past two years. A fair ruling would lead to the acquittal of Imran and Bushra.”

The accusations claim that Imran and Bushra Bibi received billions in cash and land estimated in hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd in return for the legalisation of Rs 50 billion, which had been identified and repatriated to Pakistan by the United Kingdom during the previous PTI administration, as reported by Dawn.

The ruling was initially set for December 23 but was postponed due to winter breaks and later rescheduled for January 6. It was delayed once more as Judge Nasir Javed Rana was on leave, and on January 13, the session was pushed back again as Imran and Bushra did not appear in court.

Imran Khan has been in custody since August 2023 concerning several legal matters, which he claims are politically motivated. He was acquitted in the cipher and Iddat cases last year but now faces new accusations in the Toshakhana 2 case.