Pakistan Court Suspends Imran Khan’s Jail Sentence in State Gifts Case
A court in Pakistan has temporarily suspended the 14-year jail sentence of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a case related to the illegal selling of state gifts. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) announced the decision on Monday, providing a legal victory for Khan, who is currently serving prison terms in other cases.
Khan and Bibi were convicted on January 31 for unlawfully selling state gifts, just a week before the February 8 elections, which Khan’s party alleges were rigged. However, the suspension of their sentence in the Toshakhana case does not guarantee their immediate release as they are already serving prison terms in other legal proceedings.
The Toshakhana corruption case accuses Khan of retaining expensive state gifts received during his tenure as Pakistan’s premier without following the appropriate procedures. Under Toshakhana rules, government officials can keep gifts by paying a price for them, but Khan and his wife allegedly failed to deposit the gifts or acquired them at low prices using their authority.
The court’s decision to suspend their sentence offers a glimmer of hope for Khan, who faces over 170 legal cases. The couple’s lawyer, Barrister Ali Zafar, emphasized the lack of evidence supporting their conviction and claimed that they were being politically victimized.
Despite the suspension of their sentence, Khan and his wife remain embroiled in legal battles, with the court set to resume hearing the case later this month. Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has remained popular despite his convictions and imprisonment.
While the court’s decision provides a temporary reprieve for Khan and his wife, the broader implications of their legal battles on Pakistani politics and governance remain uncertain. As the legal proceedings continue, the fate of Khan’s political career hangs in the balance, with supporters and critics closely watching the developments unfold.
