Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were on Saturday sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment each in a major corruption case linked to the country’s Toshakhana, the official state depository for gifts received by public office-holders. The verdict marks another serious setback for the jailed former leader, whose legal battles show no sign of abating.
The ruling was delivered by a special court of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) during proceedings held inside Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is currently lodged. In addition to the prison terms, the court imposed a fine of PKR 160 million on the couple, warning that failure to pay could lead to further incarceration.
The Gift at the Heart of the Case
The case centres on allegations that while serving as prime minister, Imran Khan received an expensive Bulgari jewellery set as a gift from Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince. Prosecutors alleged that the gift, which should have been deposited with the Toshakhana, was instead purchased by Khan at a significantly undervalued price and later sold for substantial profit.
Under Pakistani law, gifts received from foreign dignitaries by public officials must be declared and deposited with the Toshakhana. Office-holders who wish to retain such items are required to pay their assessed market value, determined through an official process that may include auction benchmarks. Proceeds from any subsequent auction are meant to go into the national exchequer.
How the Alleged Scheme Worked
According to court records and media reports cited by investigators, Imran Khan received 58 gifts worth approximately PKR 140 million during official foreign visits after coming to power in 2018. While these items were initially deposited with the Toshakhana, prosecutors alleged that Khan later bought them back at sharply reduced prices, following changes introduced to the relevant rules during his tenure.
Investigators claimed that the former prime minister paid around PKR 21.5 million to acquire the gifts and later sold them on the open market, earning an estimated PKR 58 million, thereby making a significant personal profit. The items allegedly included a Graff wristwatch, several Rolex watches, cufflinks, an expensive pen, rings and other luxury accessories.
Discovery and Legal Proceedings
The controversy surfaced months after Imran Khan was removed from office in 2022. Members of Pakistan’s ruling coalition submitted a formal complaint to the Speaker of the National Assembly, accusing Khan of failing to fully disclose gifts received during his premiership and of violating asset declaration rules.
Following an inquiry, notices were issued to Khan, who acknowledged selling certain gifts but maintained that the items were personal in nature and that he had acted within the law. The matter later expanded into multiple investigations by the Election Commission of Pakistan, the National Accountability Bureau, and the FIA.
While Imran Khan secured relief from higher courts in some related cases, the present Toshakhana prosecution culminated in the fresh conviction announced on Saturday.
Political Fallout and Disqualification
The Toshakhana affair has already had major political consequences for Khan. In 2023, he was disqualified from Parliament after the Election Commission ruled that he had deliberately submitted false statements regarding his assets for the 2020–21 period. He was declared ineligible under Article 63(1)(p) of Pakistan’s Constitution and relevant provisions of the Election Act, 2017.
Subsequently, Khan was arrested in connection with multiple cases, most of which he has described as politically motivated.
Imran Khan’s Defence
Imran Khan has consistently rejected the allegations, arguing that the gifts were presented to him in a personal capacity and that he was entitled to retain or dispose of them. He has termed the cases against him “baseless” and part of a broader campaign to sideline him and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, from national politics.
With the latest conviction, Khan and Bushra Bibi now face a prolonged legal battle ahead, as appeals are expected. For now, the Toshakhana case stands as one of the most consequential corruption rulings involving a former Pakistani prime minister, carrying implications that extend well beyond the courtroom and into the country’s already volatile political landscape.
