Islamabad: In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court has granted interim relief to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, by suspending their 14-year prison sentences in the high-stakes Toshakhana corruption case. The case, which has captured national attention, centers on allegations that Khan illegally sold state gifts during his tenure as Pakistan’s leader from 2018 to 2022.
The Toshakhana, a repository for presents given to government officials by foreign dignitaries, requires that such gifts be declared and deposited before any personal retention is allowed. Officials may keep these gifts upon payment of a predetermined price. However, Khan and his wife are accused of either not depositing the gifts or acquiring them at undervalued prices, leveraging their positions of authority.
The accountability court had previously sentenced the couple on January 31, just days ahead of the general elections, stirring political and public discourse. The High Court’s decision to suspend this sentence came on a Monday, with Chief Justice Aamer Farooq stating that the appeal against the sentence would be heard after the Eid holidays.
This case is part of a broader legal challenge for Khan, who has faced multiple legal proceedings since his time in office. The Election Commission of Pakistan had disqualified him from holding public office for five years in a landmark decision related to the same case. Khan has contested these rulings, maintaining that the gifts were legally obtained and sold, with proceeds purportedly used for public investment and development works.
The suspension of the sentence provides a reprieve for Khan and his wife, allowing them to avoid immediate imprisonment. The nation now awaits the High Court’s post-Eid deliberations to see the outcome of this politically charged case.
