Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to prison in a corruption case. In the verdict announced on Friday, Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison. This sentence was given against them in the Al-Qadir University Project Trust corruption case. In addition, Imran Khan was fined 1 million Pakistani rupees and Bushra Bibi was fined 5 million rupees.

Imran Khan has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail since August 2023, where an accountability court announced his sentence. Earlier, the court had reserved the verdict in the case last December and the announcement of the verdict was delayed three times.

Bushra Bibi was arrested on the court premises. Imran Khan was not present in the court when the verdict was announced on January 13. He claimed that the delay in the verdict was an attempt to put pressure on him.

This is the fourth major case verdict against Imran Khan in which he has been convicted. The three previous convictions included charges related to selling state gifts, leaking classified information and illegal marriage. Although the sentences in those cases were quashed or suspended, Imran Khan remains in prison and has many other cases against him. He has been claiming that these cases are politically motivated.

News: Al Jazeera