Imran Khan, the ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan and founder of the PTI party, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, have been convicted of the Toshakhana 2 corruption case and each received a sentence of 17 years by a special court of the Federal Investigation Agency in Pakistan. Furthermore, the court imposed a fine of PKR 16.4 million (over INR 52 lakh) on each of them apart from the sentence.Not paying the fine will mean that the additional jail time will be given according to the law.

The sentence was characterized as “lenient” by the court, which took into account Imran Khan’s age and Bushra Bibi being a woman. The judgment was pronounced by Special Judge Shahrukh Arjumand at Adiala Jail of Rawalpindi, where Khan is presently held.

The matter is concerning the alleged transaction of an expensive Bulgari diamond necklace, which was initially a gift from the Saudi crown prince to Khan during an official visit in 2021 and then sold off at a price of almost nothing. Khan was sentenced to ten years’ rigorous imprisonment under sections 34 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code and 7 years under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Bushra Bibi was given an equal sentence.

The court allowed the benefit of Section 382 B of the Criminal Procedure Code, considering the time already served in detention. Following the verdict, the couple’s lawyers announced plans to appeal in the high court.

Both were indicted in December 2024 and have consistently denied the charges, calling the case politically motivated and fabricated. Imran Khan argued that he did not qualify as a public servant under the Pakistan Penal Code and that the gift was legally declared, assessed, and retained according to the Toshakhana Policy 2018. He termed the allegations “malicious and politically engineered.”