Ex-Pakistani PM Imran Khan sentenced to 14 years in prison in corruption case

New Delhi, Jan 17: Imran Khan, former Pakistani prime minister, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison in a corruption case, which is the longest sentence he has faced so far.

This case is one of over 100 charges against him which, he says, are politically motivated.

Khan, a former cricketer who became a politician, has been in detention since August 2023. He and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were accused of accepting a piece of land as a bribe from a real estate tycoon through the Al-Qadir Trust, which they set up while he was in office. Authorities claim Khan used $232 million, repatriated by the UK’s National Crime Agency, to clear the tycoon’s court fines in exchange for the land.

Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), denies the allegations, saying the land was a donation for a spiritual education centre and not for personal gain.

PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan called the trial unfair as reported by the media saying that Imran Khan has done no wrong and will not break under pressure.

The verdict came after multiple delays and ongoing talks between PTI and the government.

Bushra Bibi, who had been out on bail since October 2023, was sentenced to seven years in prison. She was taken into custody immediately after the court ruling.

This is not the first time Khan has faced legal trouble. In 2023, he was sentenced to three years in jail for failing to disclose earnings from selling state gifts. He was also sentenced to 14 years for selling state gifts and 10 years for leaking state secrets, though those sentences were later suspended.

Despite being imprisoned and barred from public office, Khan remains a powerful figure in Pakistani politics. In last year’s election, his party won the most seats. However, his prosecution has sparked widespread protests by his supporters, leading to a strong crackdown by authorities.