Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi Jailed for Corruption and sentenced to 14 years in prison in a case relating to the illegal sale of state gifts. Wednesday’s court case revolved around accusations over state gifts that he and his wife received while in office, while Tuesday’s case – for which he was sentenced to 10 years – for leaking classified state documents.
It is thought the two sentences will run concurrently, although that has not been confirmed. The verdict, issued by an anti-graft court in Islamabad, also stated that the couple would be disqualified from holding public office for the next 10 years, Reuters reported. They have also been slapped with a fine of ₹787 million each.
Bushra Bibi Jailed for Corruption: Who is Bushra Bibi?
Bushra Bibi was born in a politically influential family from central Punjab. She originates from the town of Pakpattan, located 250 km southwest of Lahore. The town is known for being home to the Shrine of Baba Farid, of whom both she and Khan are spiritual followers, and where they first met. In 1989 she married Khawar Maneka.
Khawar Maneka was the son of Ghulam Muhammad Maneka, a former federal minister in Benazir Bhutto’s cabinet. Bushra Bibi got divorced in 2017. She married Imran Khan in January 2018. Bushra Bibi wears a niqab in her face she does not have any social media accounts. Bushra Bibi Is a believer in Sufi Islam.
What is a gift case?
Imran Khan was previously handed a three-year prison sentence in August by another court for selling gifts worth more than 140 million rupees ($501,000) in state possession and received during his 2018-22 premiership. The case was later suspended, But Imran Khan remained in jail in connection with another case. Government officials have alleged Khan’s aides sold the gifts in Dubai.
A list of these gifts shared by a former information minister included perfumes, diamond jewelry, dinner sets, and seven watches, six of them Rolexes – the most expensive being a “Master Graff limited edition” valued at 85 million rupees ($304,000).
What is a Cipher case?
In this case, Imran Khan is allegedly exposing the country’s official secrets in 2023. The case pertains to diplomatic communications between Washington and Islamabad. It involves the purported disclosure of confidential diplomatic communication from Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington to Islamabad during Khan’s tenure as prime minister.
#WATCH: From spiritual healer to First Lady of Pakistan and now a convicted felon: Who is Bushra Bibi, ex-PM Imran Khan’s wife jailed for corruption? Read here: https://t.co/h2WRAupFgj pic.twitter.com/F9gNk7gbhi
— Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) January 31, 2024
In March 2022 Imran Khan was removed from his prime minister post by no confidence motion in the National Assembly of Pakistan. The cipher had reportedly gone missing from Khan’s possession. The duo had claimed that the cable contained a threat from the United States to topple their government.
The cricketer-turned-politician had earlier termed the trial as nothing less than a “joke”, saying “The prosecution team and defense counsels both belong to the government.”
In a post on X, he had compared it to a “fixed match.” This is not a trial but a fixed match whose outcome was predetermined by the characters and planners of the London Plan and their seals. That is why I already know the decision of this case,” he wrote.
Imran Khan was ousted from the Prime Minister’s post in April 2022 through a vote of no-confidence. More than 150 cases have been registered against him since his ouster from power.
Imran Khan’s media team said, “Another sad day in our judicial system history, which is being dismantled.”
“No cross questioning allowed, no final argument concluded and decision pops up like a pre-determined process in play,” the team said further adding, “This ridiculous decision will also be be challenged.”