Former Pakistani Prime Minister and Wife Sentenced to 14 Years in Jail for Corruption
Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party revealed that Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption, dealing a severe blow to the embattled former prime minister.
In a case involving the unlawful selling of official gifts during Khan's term as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, the National Accountability Bureau found them guilty.
Khan has been in jail since August on a number of allegations, and the PTI reports that he has also been forbidden from holding public office for ten years. This sentence represents his second judicial loss in the same week. After the sentence, Bibi was brought into the custody of the police.
This development occurs less than a week before the general election anticipated on February 8. Moreover, it closely follows a 10-year sentence imposed on Khan for the purported leaking of state secrets—an event signaling a compounded legal ordeal for the former Prime Minister, who was found to serve his sentences concurrently.
The looming election has been cast under a cloud of scrutiny, with many analysts viewing it as potentially one of the least credible in Pakistan’s history, attributable to the military's crackdown on Khan and his allies.
Despite his political controversies, Khan has enjoyed widespread popularity among Pakistan's predominantly young voters, who have perceived him as a transformative figure distinct from the country's historical political dynasties and military rule.
Related To This: Ghana Records Zero Progress in Corruption Fight since 2020
The former cricket icon-turned-politician—who ascended to power promising an anti-corruption agenda in 2018—has faced mounting political turmoil since his dramatic ousting in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. This event precipitated an extended showdown between Khan and the influential military, whom he accused of orchestrating his removal, a charge the military denies.
Khan, known for challenging Pakistan’s military establishment, witnessed significant public support as tens of thousands gathered in nationwide rallies, echoing widespread discontent with the ruling authorities. However, the military responded with a comprehensive crackdown on Khan and his party members, including intimidation, travel bans, and arrests on various charges.
The opposition PTI, faced with the recent sentencing, decried the decision, firmly asserting that it will be challenged, framing it as a "sad day" in the country's judicial history.
Khan maintains that the charges against him are politically motivated, an assertion rebutted by authorities.
The former cricket icon-turned-politician—who ascended to power promising an anti-corruption agenda in 2018—has faced mounting political turmoil since his dramatic ousting in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. This event precipitated an extended showdown between Khan and the influential military, whom he accused of orchestrating his removal, a charge the military denies.
Khan, known for challenging Pakistan’s military establishment, witnessed significant public support as tens of thousands gathered in nationwide rallies, echoing widespread discontent with the ruling authorities. However, the military responded with a comprehensive crackdown on Khan and his party members, including intimidation, travel bans, and arrests on various charges.
The opposition PTI, faced with the recent sentencing, decried the decision, firmly asserting that it will be challenged, framing it as a "sad day" in the country's judicial history.
Khan maintains that the charges against him are politically motivated, an assertion rebutted by authorities.
Source: cnn
Comments
Post a Comment