ISLAMABAD – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Friday, January 17, in a high-profile land corruption case. The verdict was delivered by an anti-graft court in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been detained since August 2023, according to ARY News.

The case, involving alleged financial misconduct during Khan’s premiership from 2018 to 2022, is considered the most significant of the many legal battles he has faced. Prosecutors accused Khan, 72, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, of accepting land as a gift from a real estate developer in exchange for illegal favors. Both had denied the charges.

Bushra Bibi, who is in her late 40s and had been out on bail, was also convicted and taken into custody following the verdict, as reported by Geo News. The announcement of the judgment had been delayed multiple times, most recently earlier this week, as negotiations continued between the government and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

In a statement, PTI’s foreign media wing criticized the verdict, calling the case against Khan and his wife “baseless” and predicting that it would not hold up under scrutiny.

The ruling is a major blow to Khan and his party, which had shown resilience in the 2024 general elections despite political turmoil. PTI-affiliated candidates, forced to run as independents, secured the most seats but fell short of forming a majority government.

Khan, a former cricket star turned politician, has faced a series of legal challenges since being ousted from office in a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022. While he has been acquitted or seen sentences suspended in most cases, he remains convicted in charges related to inciting violence.

The May 9, 2023, arrest of Khan triggered violent protests, with his supporters storming military installations. This led to a heightened security situation and his subsequent trial being conducted within the jail premises. Khan’s sentencing marks another chapter in Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape, as his party continues to grapple with the fallout of legal battles and a fractured political base.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters file