Pakistan court hands former PM Khan 17-year sentence in gifts case

A Pakistani court sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years yesterday for corruption involving gifts the jailed leader received while in office.

The ruling is the latest legal setback for Khan, who has faced a multitude of cases since his government was removed from power in 2022. Khan, incarcerated since 2023, has denied the charges and accused authorities of political persecution. Both Khan and Bibi were handed a 10-year prison sentence on criminal breach of trust, and seven years on corruption charges in a case alleging the underpricing of state gifts.

Under Pakistani law, government officials must declare all gifts, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value or buy them back at a discount.