Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been handed a 14-year prison sentence for their involvement in a graft case. This comes just a day after Khan’s 10-year jail term for another corruption conviction. The ousted PM, who claims that the cases against him are politically motivated, is currently serving a three-year sentence for corruption and has been detained since last August. Khan’s PTI party has denounced the ruling and stated that it will also result in his disqualification from holding public office for a decade.
The charges against Khan and Bibi stem from allegations that they illegally sold state gifts for personal gain. The couple was accused of profiting from the sale of items they had received while Khan was in office. The sentencing, which marks yet another blow for Khan just a week before Pakistan’s national elections, is believed to be concurrent with his existing prison term.
Khan, a former international cricketer who rose to power in 2018, has been a prominent figure in Pakistani politics. However, his opponents managed to oust him from the prime minister’s office in 2022, leading to a cascade of legal troubles for the ex-PM. Despite the mounting convictions, Khan has remained defiant and has urged the public to use their vote on February 8 to seek retribution and justice peacefully.
The sentencing of Khan and Bibi has raised concerns about the state of the judicial system in Pakistan. Critics argue that the verdicts appear to be politically motivated and indicate a dismantling of the judiciary’s independence. Khan’s party has accused the courts of bias and labelled it as another dark day in the history of the country’s judicial system.
The latest convictions will also have significant implications for the upcoming elections, as Khan is now barred from running for office. This development may influence the electoral landscape, potentially impacting the political dynamics and alliances within the country.
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