[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]In Islamabad, an accountability court on Wednesday issued a 14-year prison sentence to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Toshakhana graft case. The proceedings were overseen by Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is currently held.
As part of the verdict, both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi face a ten-year ban from holding any public office and are collectively fined Rs787 million. It is noteworthy that Bushra Bibi did not appear in court on the specified day.
Read more: Imran Seeks SC To Suspend Toshakhana Conviction
This judgment comes a day after a special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, sentenced Imran Khan and his foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, to ten years in prison in the cipher case.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had recently initiated a new reference against the duo in an accountability court last month. The charges against them involved the alleged possession of a jewelry set received from the Saudi crown prince, with accusations of undervalued assessment.
Prior to this verdict, the judge had concluded the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses and directed both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to provide their statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
It is crucial to note that this judgment is delivered just eight days ahead of the scheduled February 8 general elections, in which Imran Khan’s political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is participating amidst a state crackdown and without an allocated electoral symbol. The timing of this verdict adds a layer of complexity to the political landscape, potentially influencing the upcoming elections and shaping the trajectory of political dynamics in Pakistan.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
