Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan sentenced to 14 years in landmark corruption case Bushra Bibi Jailed Too

On January 17, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, received a seven-year term in a corruption case involving the Al-Qadir University Project Trust.

An accountability court operating from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail also imposed fines of 1 million Pakistani rupees ($3,500) on Khan and half that amount on Bibi, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The court, which had reserved its verdict in December, announced the decision after multiple delays.

Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023, did not attend the final hearing, citing the repeated postponements as “pressure tactics.” His lawyer, Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, called the judgment a continuation of “bogus persecution,” claiming the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) failed to prove any financial loss to the state or personal gain for the couple.

The case alleges that Khan, as prime minister (2018–2022), facilitated a quid pro quo deal with property tycoon Malik Riaz. NAB accused Khan’s government of legalizing $239 million in recovered UK funds for Riaz, enabling the acquisition of land worth billions of rupees for the trust. The trust aimed to establish a non-profit educational institute.

Khan has denied all charges, describing the proceedings as politically motivated. “This is a witch-hunt,” he claimed, while his lawyer argued the case lacked evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

The Al-Qadir Trust case marks Khan’s fourth conviction, although earlier verdicts – including charges of selling state gifts and leaking secrets – were overturned. Despite this, Khan remains in custody with dozens of cases pending, stemming from his ousting via a no-confidence vote in April 2022, which he attributes to a conspiracy by the military and the U.S., allegations both deny.

Political tensions have escalated, with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party locked in negotiations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government. Analysts warn the latest verdict may derail dialogue and deepen divisions within PTI, with some factions advocating confrontation over compromise.

The case underscores Pakistan’s history of political victimization, according to political analyst Majid Nizami. “Justice often takes a backseat to vindictiveness,” he said, adding that while the prosecution presented extensive documentation, the trial’s political undertones overshadow its legal merits.

With over 100 hearings in the past year, the case highlights broader concerns over accountability and governance in Pakistan, where no prime minister has completed their tenure in the country’s 76-year history.

By Aghakazim Guliyev