Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to further jail terms following a fraud case involving state gifts.
They were convicted of breaking Pakistan's rules on gifts after Bibi was given a luxury jewellery set by Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman during a 2021 state visit.
The pair are already serving time in prison for earlier convictions, and the new sentences - 10 years for criminal breach of trust and seven years for criminal misconduct, along with a fine - will reportedly run concurrently with their previous terms.
Khan has described the charges as politically motivated, and his lawyer expressed intent to challenge the verdict.
After the sentencing, Khan's lawyer, Salman Safdar, noted that neither Khan nor his wife attended the hearing, and their legal team was informed about the sentencing late on Friday night, after normal court hours.
This case is the latest in a series of charges against the cricket star-turned-politician, who has been detained since August 2023.
In January, Khan received a 14-year prison sentence over a separate corruption case, and he has faced over 100 charges, ranging from leaking state secrets to selling state gifts.
The current case involves a Bulgari jewellery set given to Bushra Bibi by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince during a state visit. It is alleged that Khan orchestrated a scheme to undervalue the jewelry before repurchasing it at a reduced price.
Besides their jail sentences, the couple was fined over 16 million Pakistani rupees (£42,600). Khan was previously acquitted in a separate Toshakhana case, but still faces outstanding charges including those related to violent protests in May 2023.
Khan served as Pakistan's prime minister until April 2022 when he was ousted through a vote of no confidence. Despite his detention, messages attributed to him continue to surface on social media, sharply criticizing the current government and military leadership.
The judge did show some leniency in sentencing due to Khan’s "old age" and it’s reported that he and his wife were present during the announcement of the verdict. However, journalists were barred from the hearing.
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