Imran Khan, Former Pakistan PM, Gets 14-Year Sentence in Corruption Case

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A Pakistani court convicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, on Friday in a major corruption case. Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Bibi received a seven-year sentence for their involvement with the Al-Qadir Trust, a welfare organization they established.

Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023, facing nearly 200 charges, though his party asserts that the convictions are politically motivated, aimed at silencing him. Despite the verdict, Khan vowed not to seek any deals or concessions.

The anti-corruption court, which convened inside the jail near Islamabad, found both Khan and his wife guilty of misuse of their foundation. Bibi, a faith healer, was arrested immediately following the conviction, after her release on bail earlier.

Khan has consistently maintained that the cases against him are a tactic to prevent his return to politics. Since his ousting from power in 2022, Khan has been critical of the military establishment, which he claims is orchestrating his political downfall.

This conviction follows a series of previous rulings, two of which have been overturned, with others suspended. Despite this, Khan remains in custody due to ongoing cases. A UN expert panel previously stated that his detention lacked legal justification and seemed designed to block him from running for office.

As the February election nears, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party faced significant challenges, with a military-aligned coalition government blocking PTI’s access to power, even though the party secured the most seats.

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