Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Wife Sentenced to 14 Years in Jail in Corruption Case

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption offenses associated with accepting illegal gifts during his tenure.

This ruling came just days before the national elections and followed another sentence of 10 years for Khan regarding the leak of confidential information.

Khan's political party, PTI, lamented the decision as a dark moment for the judiciary. It remains unclear whether Khan's sentences will be served back-to-back or simultaneously, as his lawyer confirmed the couple's convictions. So far, Bibi has not been taken into custody.

The couple, who wed in 2018 shortly before Khan's election win, have been a focal point in the lead-up to the upcoming vote. Bibi, a spiritual advisor, maintains a low public profile.

The elections have been tainted by vote-rigging accusations, with Khan ineligible to run due to a prior corruption charge, and his party enduring significant repression.

Since his 2022 removal from office, Khan has faced numerous legal challenges, which he argues are politically motivated to block his return. He has alleged military involvement in his ousting through a US-backed plot.

Khan's arrest in the previous year sparked widespread protests, severely suppressed by the military, resulting in detentions and forced leadership into hiding.

Khan, rallying support, urged voters to use their ballots on February 8 as a form of protest against the injustices inflicted upon him and his followers.