Pakistan
Imran, Bushra sentenced to 14-year imprisonment in Tosha Khana case
Judge Muhammad Bashir of accountability court also disqualified Imran Khan for 10 years.
Rawalpindi: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 14-year imprisonment each with har labor in Tosha Khana Case.
According to the details, judge Muhammad Bashir of Accountability Court also disqualified Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi for 10 years.
A fine of Rs1.5730 billion has also been imposed on founder PTI and Bushra Bibi. PTI founder was brought to court before sentencing while his wife did not appear.
During the hearing, Accountability Court judge Muhammad Bashir asked PTI founder if he has submitted 342 statement? On which he replied: "I have prepared the statement, I will submit it when Bushra Bibi and my lawyers will come".
The founder of PTI while talking to the judge said why are you in such a hurry? 'I have been cheated, I was only summoned for attendence'.
Imran Khan requested some time for his lawyers to come but Judge Muhammad Bashir refused to give time.
Later, the judge sent a message to Imran Khan through the jail superintendent that he should come to the courtroom, they have to complete the proceedings. But he refused, after which Judge Bashir of the Accountability Court pronounced a short verdict in the Tosha Khana case.
When Imran Khan came to the courtroom after being repeatedly called in the court, Judge Muhammad Bashir sentenced former Prime Minister and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years of imprisonment with hard labor in the Tosha Khana case and imposed a fine of Rs1.5730 billion and disqualification for 10 years.
It is pertinent to note that the statement of Bushra Bibi was recorded on Tuesday, but the hearing was postponed due to the ill health of Judge Muhammad Bashir.
Notably earlier on yesterday, former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were sentenced to 10-year imprisonment in cypher case.
Details of Tosha Khana Case
Imran Khan is accused of getting valuable gifts from foreign countries at a low price during his tenure as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 and then selling these gifts for 635,000 dollars.
Imran Khan's gifts include a valuable watch from Saudi Arabia, which has a model of Kaaba and is estimated to be worth Rs600 to 650 million in the international market.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on October 21, 2022 that former Prime Minister Imran Khan made false statements regarding the gifts and assets of Tosha Khana under Article 63 (1) of the Constitution.
Apart from this, a petition was also filed by the Election Watchdog in the Sessions Court requesting to initiate criminal proceedings against the Chairman PTI.
On May 10, 2023, the trial court indicted Imran for providing false information in the Tosha Khana case, but on July 4, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) annulled the order of the Sessions Court and ordered the petitioner to be heard and given a decision within sevenm days.
On August 4, the IHC annulled the decision of the Sessions Court regarding the Tosha Khana criminal case and directed the judge to re-judge the case against the petitioner on August 5. Khan was sentenced to three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000.