Desk:Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s troubles continue to mount as he has been sentenced to 14 years in prison in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust land scam case. The verdict was delivered by a lower court, though Khan retains the option to appeal to the High Court and eventually the Supreme Court. Alongside Imran Khan, his wife, Bushra Bibi, has been sentenced to 7 years in jail.
The decision comes at a time when dialogue between Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the government is underway, with the military acting as a mediator. PTI supporters were hopeful that these talks might lead to Khan’s release, but this new verdict has dealt a significant blow to their expectations.
The judgment was delivered by Judge Nasir Javed Rana of the Anti-Corruption Court in Rawalpindi. Imran Khan has been imprisoned in Adiala Jail since August 2023, and the court proceedings were held inside the jail premises to avoid transporting him. This case, filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in December 2023, is the most significant corruption case against Khan, where the verdict had been delayed three times previously, the last time being on January 13, 2024.
The case alleges that Imran Khan, his 50-year-old wife Bushra Bibi, and six others colluded with a real estate tycoon, causing a loss of £190 million to Pakistan’s government. Initially, PTI had refused to engage in talks with the government and military but later agreed to participate, raising hopes for Khan’s release. However, the latest verdict has further complicated the situation for the former cricket star and his party.