Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison in a high-profile land corruption case, marking a significant blow to efforts to stabilize the politically turbulent South Asian nation. The verdict, delivered by an anti-graft court on Tuesday, also sentenced Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, to seven years imprisonment. The case has further strained relations between Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the government.
The judgment was announced at a court session held within Rawalpindi’s prison, where Khan has been detained since August 2023. Following the verdict, Bushra Bibi, previously out on bail, was taken into custody and transferred to the same jail after a medical examination, according to local media reports.
“The accused, Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, is hereby held guilty of corruption and corrupt practices,” stated the court order, which also implicated Bushra Bibi in aiding and abetting the alleged crimes. The court ordered the confiscation of land linked to the case.
Omar Ayub, a senior PTI official, announced that the party plans to challenge the ruling in higher courts. Meanwhile, government ministers welcomed the decision, emphasizing the weight of the evidence presented.
The charges stem from allegations that Khan and his wife accepted land from a prominent real estate developer during Khan’s tenure as prime minister (2018-2022) in exchange for unlawful favors. The prosecution argued that the land, encompassing 60 acres near Islamabad and additional plots near Khan’s private residence, was funneled through the Al Qadir Trust, a non-governmental organization established by the couple. Prosecutors described the trust as a front for illicit land acquisitions, claims that Khan and Bibi denied.
PTI has maintained that the land was intended for a spiritual and educational institution, not personal gain. Khan’s social media account described the conviction as a “joke” and urged supporters to remain resolute. “We will not make any deals and will face all false cases,” read the post.
The verdict coincides with ongoing reconciliation talks between PTI and the government, which analysts speculate could involve a compromise granting legal leniency to PTI in exchange for reducing political unrest. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar noted that Khan could file a mercy petition with the president.
Khan’s political troubles have escalated since his removal from office in 2022 following a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Facing multiple legal challenges, he has frequently accused Pakistan’s powerful military establishment of orchestrating his downfall, a charge the generals deny.
The verdict is the most significant setback for Khan since his party’s unexpected strong performance in the 2024 general elections. Despite PTI’s candidates running as independents, they secured the most seats but fell short of a governing majority.
Khan’s supporters have protested vigorously, with many alleging judicial bias and military interference. In Peshawar, a PTI rally saw protesters denouncing the verdict as politically motivated. “Such decisions cannot scare Imran Khan or his workers,” said activist Qadir Nawaz.
The case has drawn international scrutiny, with a United Nations panel previously deeming Khan’s detention as lacking legal justification. As the country grapples with the political fallout, the ruling further deepens divisions in a nation already mired in economic and political instability.
