Rawalpindi – In a major legal development, a special court in Pakistan sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment each on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in the Toshakhana-II corruption case. The verdict was delivered inside the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where both are currently detained.
Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand pronounced the ruling, finding the couple guilty of criminal breach of trust and corruption related to the undervalued purchase and retention of luxury state gifts, primarily a high-value Bulgari jewellery set received from Saudi Arabia during an official visit in May 2021. The court imposed 10 years' imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code (criminal breach of trust) and an additional seven years under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, to run concurrently.
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Additionally, each was fined approximately PKR 16.4 million (around $58,000), with warnings of further imprisonment if unpaid. The court noted a "lenient" approach considering Khan's age (73) and Bushra Bibi's gender, while granting credit for time already served under Section 382-B of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The Toshakhana-II case centers on allegations that Khan and Bushra Bibi failed to deposit valuable gifts—including diamond and gold jewellery sets worth over PKR 70 million—into the Toshakhana (state repository) as required by law. Prosecutors claimed the items were undervalued at around PKR 5.8-5.9 million, allowing the couple to acquire them at throwaway prices, causing loss to the national exchequer. Witnesses, including former military secretary Brigadier (retd) Muhammad Ahmed and appraisers, testified to the gifts' receipt and subsequent retention.
Khan and Bushra Bibi, indicted in December 2024, have consistently denied wrongdoing, labeling the case "fabricated and politically motivated." Khan, in his Section 342 statement, argued that due process was followed under the 2018 Toshakhana policy and that he was unaware of specific gift details presented to his wife. Their lawyers criticized the jail trial as unfair, alleging the defense was not fully heard and family members were barred from attending.
This conviction marks another setback for Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who has been imprisoned since August 2023 amid over 200 cases ranging from corruption to terrorism and state secrets violations—many of which he and supporters describe as a "sham" orchestrated to sideline him politically. Previous Toshakhana-related sentences include a three-year term in August 2023 and 14 years for Khan (with seven for Bushra Bibi) in January 2024 in the Toshakhana-I case, both later suspended on appeal.
The couple had been granted bail in this specific case—Bushra in October 2024 and Khan in November 2024—but remain detained due to other ongoing convictions. PTI condemned the verdict as a "kangaroo court" decision in a "closed-door jail trial," vowing to appeal in the high court.
Government officials defended the ruling, with Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik stating the gifts were legally required to be deposited, and the couple's actions constituted misuse. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar emphasized evidence-based conviction.
The case, filed by the National Accountability Bureau in July 2024 and later handled by the Federal Investigation Agency, highlights ongoing scrutiny of Toshakhana practices, where officials must declare and deposit foreign gifts for potential retention at assessed value. Critics argue selective enforcement, while authorities maintain it upholds accountability.
Khan's legal battles stem from his 2022 ouster via no-confidence vote, followed by clashes with the military-backed establishment. Supporters view the convictions as persecution, while opponents cite evidence of elite corruption. Appeals are expected, potentially leading to suspensions similar to prior cases.
International observers, including UN experts, have raised concerns over Khan's detention conditions and trial fairness amid broader debates on Pakistan's judicial independence.
