Islamabad, Pakistan – A trial court in Islamabad has sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan to three years in prison and disqualified him from politics for five years.
Khan was convicted of illegally selling state gifts, also known as the Toshakhana corruption case. The court found that Khan had sold a set of expensive watches that he had received as gifts from foreign dignitaries while he was prime minister.
The court’s decision is a major blow to Khan, who has been facing a number of legal challenges since he was ousted from power in April 2022. Khan has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to appeal the verdict.
The sentencing of Khan is the latest in a series of political upheavals in Pakistan. No prime minister in the history of Pakistan has yet served their full five-year term.
The Toshakhana corruption case
The Toshakhana corruption case dates back to 2018, when Khan was still prime minister. In that year, Khan received a set of expensive watches from a foreign dignitary. According to Pakistani law, gifts received by government officials from foreign dignitaries are supposed to be deposited in the Toshakhana, a government repository. However, Khan instead kept the watches for himself and sold them.
The case was first investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s anti-corruption watchdog. However, the NAB dropped the case in 2019. Khan’s political opponents then filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court, challenging the NAB’s decision.
In April 2022, the Islamabad High Court ordered the NAB to reopen the case. The NAB then filed a charge sheet against Khan in May 2022. Khan was finally convicted of the charges on August 5, 2023.
The implications of Khan’s sentencing
The sentencing of Khan is a major blow to his political career. Khan has been a popular figure in Pakistan, and he had been expected to return to power in the next general election. However, the conviction will likely make it difficult for Khan to run for office again.
The sentencing of Khan is also a sign of the political instability in Pakistan. The country has been through a number of political upheavals in recent years, and it is unclear who will be the next prime minister.
What happens next?
Khan has said that he will appeal the verdict. The appeal will be heard by the Islamabad High Court. If the appeal is unsuccessful, Khan will have to serve his three-year prison sentence.
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The sentencing of Khan is a major development in Pakistani politics. It will be interesting to see how the case unfolds and what the implications are for the future of Pakistan.
