RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — A Pakistani court sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan to 14 years in prison on Friday for his involvement in a land corruption case, marking the most severe legal setback for the 72-year-old opposition leader, Pakistani media reported.
The verdict was delivered by an anti-corruption court inside a prison in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been held since August 2023. The case, which revolves around the Al Qadir Trust, is the largest corruption charge Khan has faced, alleging that he and his wife, Bushra Bibi, received land as a gift from a real estate developer in exchange for illegal favors during his premiership from 2018 to 2022.
Khan and Bushra Bibi, who had both pleaded not guilty, maintained the charges were politically motivated. Bushra Bibi, who had been out on bail, was also convicted in the case and taken into custody, according to Geo News.
The court’s decision, delayed three times over the past week, came amid ongoing negotiations between the government and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
“While we await the detailed decision, it’s important to note that the Al Qadir Trust case against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi lacks any solid foundation and is bound to collapse,” PTI’s foreign media wing said in a statement.
The ruling is a major blow to Khan and his party, which saw a strong performance in the 2024 general election. Although PTI’s candidates, forced to run as independents, won the most seats, they failed to secure a majority needed to form a government.
Since his removal from office in April 2022 through a parliamentary vote of confidence, Khan has faced dozens of legal cases, ranging from graft and misuse of power to incitement of violence against the state. Most cases have ended in acquittal or suspension of sentences, except for his conviction related to inciting supporters to attack military facilities during protests following his arrest on May 9, 2023.
Khan’s trial in the land corruption case was conducted inside the prison on security grounds.
Khan’s supporters have repeatedly rallied against his arrests, often leading to violent protests. The May 9 demonstrations, triggered by his detention, saw widespread unrest, including attacks on military installations, which led to intensified legal scrutiny against PTI members.
The former cricket star and his party maintain that the legal cases are part of a broader effort to sideline him from politics. As Khan’s legal battles continue, the verdict adds new uncertainty to Pakistan’s political landscape.
