Indus Valley Times

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 : A Pakistan court sentenced former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 14 years in jail in connection with the Toshakhana case. Besides, the couple have been barred from holding public office for 10 years, and they were penalised with Rs 787 million Pakistani Rupee.

This comes a day after a Pakistan special court imprisoned Imran Khan and former Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood for 10 years for the breach of state secrets.

The Toshakhana case was filed by ruling party lawmakers in 2022 with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), alleging that Khan submitted fabricated details of the sale of state gifts to the election body, reported news agency PTI.

The ECP first disqualified him and then filed a case of criminal proceedings in a sessions court which convicted him and subsequently, Khan was sent to jail.

The case alleges that Khan had “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana – a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept – during his time as the prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and proceeds from their reported sales.

According to Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.

Khan reportedly received 58 gifts worth more than Rs 140 million from world leaders during his three-and-a-half-year stint and retained all of them either by paying a negligible amount or even without any payment.

IMRAN KHAN ARRESTED IN TOSHAKHANA CASE

Police arrested Khan in Lahore on August 5, 2023, after a district court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election, reported Reuters news agency.

Khan’s conviction came a day after Pakistan’s High Court temporarily halted the district court trial. However, the district court has proceeded with the trial despite the High Court’s decision.

The arrest was the latest in a series of blows that have weakened Khan’s political standing, after he fell out with Pakistan’s powerful military and his party splintered.

-PTI