Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 14 years with "rigorous punishment" in the Toshakhana case, as reported by Pakistan's Geo News.
Bushra Bibi surrendered at the jail after being out on remand. Throughout their time in office, Bibi has maintained a low profile. The couple entered matrimony in 2018, mere months before Imran Khan assumed the position of Prime Minister.
Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were indicted on January 9, in the toshkhana case filed against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The decision was announced during a hearing conducted in Adiala jail, where the former prime minister is currently incarcerated in the case, as per Geo News.
The indictment came after the court deferred the indictment of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) founder and his wife after Bushra Bibi failed to appear before the court.
The recent verdict follows closely on the heels of another ruling on January 30, where Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were sentenced to 10 years each in prison in the cipher case. The decision was announced by special court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain during the hearing of the case held at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states and foreign dignitaries.
The Toshakhana issue over the sale of state gifts received by the cricketer-turned-politician became a major issue in national politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified the former premier for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.
Khan was accused of misusing his 2018 to 2022 premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than Rs 140 million ($635,000).
