Imran Khan, Wife Bushra Bibi Sentenced to 14 Years in Jail, days ahead of Pakistan election 

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi received a 14-year jail sentence on Wednesday, just days before the country heads into a crucial election. 

The ruling marks the second conviction against Khan in two days, intensifying the political drama surrounding one of Pakistan’s most prominent figures.

Khan, who was removed from office in 2022, is currently serving a three-year sentence for corruption charges, which he claims are politically motivated. The latest verdict, delivered on Wednesday, relates to allegations of illegally receiving state gifts during his tenure. The previous day, Khan received a ten-year sentence for leaking classified state documents. It is anticipated that these sentences will be served concurrently, though this has not been officially confirmed. Additionally, the court has imposed a substantial fine of approximately 1.5 billion rupees on the couple.

This recent sentencing comes at a crucial time, as Pakistan is set to hold an election from which Khan is barred. His political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), expressed concerns that these verdicts effectively ban Khan from future political roles, including holding public office for the next ten years.

Khan’s legal team has announced plans to appeal both convictions in Pakistan’s High Court, indicating ongoing legal battles in the country’s turbulent political landscape.