A COURT in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years’ imprisonment each in a corruption case involving the purchase of luxury state gifts allegedly obtained at prices below their actual value.
According to local media reports cited by Geo News, Imran Khan, 73, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been behind bars since his arrest in August 2023 on corruption-related charges.
He is currently serving multiple prison sentences in several cases that his supporters have described as politically motivated.
Reuters reported on Saturday that earlier this month, one of Khan’s sisters said the former premier was in good physical health but was facing isolation and psychological pressure in detention, following weeks during which his family claimed access to him had been restricted.
Uzma Khanum, one of Khan’s three sisters, was reportedly the only family member allowed to visit him at Adiala Prison. Her visit came as supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party gathered outside the prison to protest what they described as his treatment in custody.
Authorities have rejected allegations of mistreatment, insisting that Khan has been accorded all facilities and rights provided to inmates under prison regulations.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Affairs, Talal Chaudhry, said matters related to prison visits fall under the authority of prison management and are not controlled by the government.
The latest verdict adds to a series of legal setbacks for Khan, whose imprisonment and prosecution continue to fuel political tension in Pakistan, as his party maintains that the cases against him are aimed at sidelining him from national politics. - December 20, 2025
