Friday, January 17, 2025 - A Pakistan court on Friday, January 17, convicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a landmark corruption case, sentencing Khan to 14 years in prison.
Khan has been in custody since August 2023 facing around 200
charges, and his supporters claim the conviction is part of an effort to
pressure him into stepping away from politics. “I will neither make any deal
nor seek any relief,” Khan told reporters inside the courtroom after the
verdict.
The anti-graft court, which convened in the jail where Khan
is being held near Islamabad, found the couple guilty of corruption linked to a
welfare foundation they established, called the Al-Qadir Trust. "The
prosecution has proven its case. Khan is convicted," Judge Nasir Javed
Rana announced, sentencing Khan to 14 years and his wife, Bibi, to seven years.
Bibi, a faith healer who was recently released on bail, was
arrested immediately after the conviction, according to her spokeswoman, Mashal
Yousafzai. Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has vowed to challenge
the verdict in court.
The conviction follows a rare meeting between PTI leaders
and government officials the day before, aimed at easing the country’s
political tensions. Khan, who maintains that all charges against him are
politically motivated, has repeatedly stated that the cases are designed to
prevent his return to power. He has faced four prior convictions, two of which
were overturned, while the others had their sentences suspended.
Despite the legal setbacks, Khan has remained defiant. The
Al-Qadir Trust case is the longest-running charge against him, alongside other
charges related to inciting protests. The court’s decision had been delayed
three times, leading some analysts to speculate that behind-the-scenes
negotiations were taking place.
Earlier this month, Khan claimed he had been
"indirectly approached" about the possibility of house arrest at his
home on the outskirts of Islamabad, but he has consistently rejected such
offers, vowing to fight his legal battles in court.
Analysts suggest that Pakistan's powerful military remains a
significant influence in the country’s politics, despite the military's denial
of interference. Khan’s continued popularity is seen as a challenge to the
current coalition government, which has faced criticism for keeping the PTI out
of power following the 2022 elections.
Khan has been barred from running in the February election,
and PTI's chances were further limited by a government crackdown. Though PTI
won more seats than any other party, a coalition of parties considered more
aligned with the military establishment shut them out of power. A United
Nations panel of experts had previously stated that Khan’s detention appeared
to lack legal basis and seemed designed to disqualify him from running for
political office.
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