Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 14 years in jail for illegally selling state gifts.
The sentencing comes a day after Khan was given a 10-year prison term in a case related to the leaking of state secrets.
Accountability court’s Judge Muhammad Bashir announced the verdict, also disqualifying the former prime minister for 10 years while handing over a fine of Rs1.57 billion — 787 million each — to the couple.
During the previous hearing, which was also held at Adiala jail, the court recorded Bushra Bibi’s statement under Section 342.
At the outset of the hearing today, Judge Bashir asked Khan if he recorded his statement. To this, the former premier said that he would submit his statement once his lawyers came.
بشریٰ بی بی کے اڈیالہ جیل پہنچنے کے مناظر، لیگل ٹیم سے مشاورت کے بعد خود گرفتاری دینے پہنچیں۔۔!! pic.twitter.com/Ti1CNo4Vfe
— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram143) January 31, 2024
“I have been deceived as I was only called to mark my attendance for the hearing,” said the PTI founder.
Accountability court’s Judge Muhammad Bashir does not record statements of Imran Khan under Section 342.
Following the verdict, Bushra Bibi, who was not present in court when the sentence was announced, arrived at the Adiala jail and surrendered before the authorities.
NAB had filed the reference against the duo over the graff jewelry set which included necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and a ring worth Rs1.57 billion.
Khan and Bushra had only paid Rs9 million and had fixed the price of the jewelry set through a private firm.
