Islamabad: Islamabad high court Monday suspended ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s and wife Bushra Bibi’s 14-year sentences in the Toshakhana case related to selling state gifts he received while in office. A trial court had sentenced them on Jan 31 this year, just a week before the Feb 8 general elections. Despite the suspensions, Imran (71) will not be released as he was convicted in two other cases.
HC said the Toshakhana sentences would remain suspended until it decided Imran’s appeal case after the Eid holidays that begin in 10 days. “No evidence backs up this conviction,” Imran’s lawyer Ali Zafar told reporters, explaining why HC put the sentences on hold at the appeal’s first hearing itself.
The trial court had also barred Imran and Bushra from holding any public office for 10 years and slapped a fine of Pak Rs 787 million ($2.8 million) each.
The case against Imran and his wife was filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s anti-corruption watchdog, last Dec accusing the couple for retaining a jewellery set received from the Saudi crown prince against an undervalued assessment. NAB claimed Imran and his wife received a total of 108 gifts from various heads of state and foreign dignitaries when he was PM from 2018 to 2022. In the case at hand, Imran is also accused of not disclosing assets from alleged sale of such state gifts valued at more than Pak Rs 14 crore.
