A Pakistani court has sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison after finding them guilty of corruption-related charges. The verdict marks the latest in a series of legal troubles facing the former cricket star turned politician, who has been embroiled in multiple court cases since his ouster from power in 2022.
The court found Khan and his wife guilty of illegally receiving gifts from foreign dignitaries during his time as prime minister and failing to properly declare them as state property. The case, known as the Toshakhana case, has been one of several legal challenges mounted against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leader.
Khan, 72, has been in custody since August 2023 on various charges and has consistently denied all accusations against him, calling them politically motivated attempts to keep him out of politics. His supporters have staged numerous protests demanding his release, and the PTI party continues to claim that the charges are part of a coordinated effort by the military establishment and rival political parties.
Bushra Bibi, Khan's third wife, has also been detained alongside her husband. The couple's lawyers announced they would appeal the verdict, calling it unjust and based on flawed evidence.
The sentencing comes at a politically turbulent time in Pakistan, with the country facing economic challenges and ongoing tensions between various political factions. International human rights organizations have called for fair treatment of Khan and other political prisoners in Pakistan.
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