Lahore, Pakistan - Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been convicted in the Toshakhana case and subsequently sentenced to three years in prison. The verdict was delivered by an Islamabad trial court, which also imposed a five-year ban on his involvement in active politics.
Khan was arrested at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, according to an announcement by his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). PTI General Secretary Omar Ayub Khan acknowledged the arrest and emphasized that peaceful protest is a constitutional right for every Pakistani citizen.
The 70-year-old politician, renowned for his former cricket career, stands accused of benefiting from the sale of valuable state gifts during his tenure as Prime Minister. Pakistan's Supreme Court had previously dismissed Khan's plea to transfer the case to another court, while an Islamabad trial court proceeded to find him guilty of "corrupt practices" in the Toshakhana case.
Additional Judge Humayun Dilawar of the district and sessions court in Islamabad handed down the verdict, imposing a fine of Rs 100,000. Should Khan fail to pay the fine, an additional six months of imprisonment will be added to his sentence.
During the trial, Judge Humayun Dilawar affirmed that the charges against Khan in the case were substantiated. He stated, "Imran Khan submitted fake details to the Election Commission of Pakistan and is found guilty of corrupt practices."
The verdict was issued a day after the Islamabad High Court overturned a session court's decision to uphold the admissibility of the Toshakhana case for criminal proceedings against Khan.
Heightened security measures have been implemented outside Khan's residence, with traffic restrictions in place along Zaman Park road. Demonstrations have been prohibited in the vicinity.
In response to the verdict, PTI criticized the ongoing legal proceedings against Khan, labeling them a "mockery of law." The party denounced the decision as "biased" and expressed intention to challenge the district and sessions court's ruling at the high court level. PTI further asserted that the nation would not accept what it perceives as a conspiracy and vengeance attempt against a prominent political leader.
The Toshakhana case revolves around Khan's alleged misuse of his premiership from 2018 to 2022 to buy and sell state-received gifts from foreign dignitaries, valued at over Rs 140 million (approximately USD 635,000). The case stems from a complaint filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which had earlier disqualified Khan in the same context.
Imran Khan faces numerous legal challenges, including charges of terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption, and murder. Despite his ousting from power in April of the preceding year, Khan maintains a notable presence in Pakistani politics and continues to be a significant figure on the international stage.