PTI founder chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 14 years in prison in Toshakhana reference.

An accountability court in Islamabad announced the verdict on a corruption reference filed by the NAB against Imran and Bushra earlier this month. The court barred both from holding any public office for 10 years, imposing a fine of Rs787 million each on the couple. The National Accountability Bureau has accused the former prime minister and his spouse of purchasing gifts from Toshakhana at low prices and selling those in the open market.

The court announced the verdict a week before the general elections in Pakistan. It is the third conviction of the former prime minister in a row. A district court had already awarded Imran Khan three years in jail in the Toshakhana case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan. The Islamabad High Court later suspended the sentence. A special court on Tuesday awarded him and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi 10-years each jail sentence in the Cipher case.

The accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir had closed the request for cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses. Imran has also not recorded his statement in the case, however, Bushra Bibil recorded it under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

PTI reaction:

Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf official X accounted has reacted to the sentence and stated: “Complete destruction of every existing law in Pakistan in 2 days. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have faced yet another kangaroo trial in which no right to defence was given to both. Like cipher, this case has no basis to stand in any Higher court. It’s shameful how a complete disregard and mockery of law is in place.”

The PTI leader and top lawyer Hamid Khan also declared the sentence as unfair and a violation of the laws. He said the courts exploited the due procedures in the trials and awarded unfair verdicts in two cases in two days.