© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, gestures as he speaks to the members of the media at his residence in Lahore, Pakistan Might 18, 2023. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza/File Picture
By Asif Shahzad and Ariba Shahid
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Khan have been every sentenced to 14 years in jail in a case associated to unlawful promoting of state items, his occasion stated on Wednesday.
The decision additionally features a 10-year disqualification from holding public workplace, his occasion, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stated. Bushra Khan, generally generally known as Bushra Bibi, was arrested shortly after the decision, PTI stated.
The sentencing by an anti-graft courtroom in Islamabad comes a day after Khan was handed a 10-year jail time period in one other case during which he was convicted of unveiling state secrets and techniques, and every week earlier than nationwide elections.
“One other unhappy day in our judicial system historical past, which is being dismantled,” Khan’s media workforce stated, denying the fees.
“No cross questioning allowed, no ultimate argument concluded and choice pops up like a pre-determined course of in play,” it stated, including “This ridiculous choice will even be challenged.”
Khan was additionally handed a three-year jail sentence in August by one other courtroom for promoting items value greater than 140 million rupees ($501,000) in state possession and obtained throughout his 2018-2022 premiership.
Wednesday’s verdict was linked to the identical matter, however adopted an investigation by the nation’s prime anti-graft physique, the Nationwide Accountability Bureau (NAB), which had additionally charged his spouse within the case.
A prosecution workforce member, talking to Reuters on the situation of anonymity, confirmed the decision. Native broadcaster Geo Information reported that the decision additionally got here with a hefty advantageous.
Khan’s earlier three-year sentence was later suspended however Khan stays behind bars in reference to different instances. He has stated that he legally bought the state items.
Authorities officers have alleged Khan’s aides offered the items in Dubai.
Khan’s earlier conviction resulted in a five-year ban from holding public workplace, ruling the 71-year-old out of the upcoming Feb 8 election. Wednesday’s verdict, nevertheless, signifies that he might be ineligible to carry workplace until he’s 81.
Whereas Khan has been discovered responsible in two separate instances, that is the primary sentencing for his spouse Bushra. The 2 have been married in 2018, months earlier than Khan ascended to premiership for the primary time. It was Khan’s third marriage after two divorces.