Toshakhana case: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, wife Bushra Bibi sentenced to 14 yrs imprisonment

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 14 years in jail in a case related to illegal selling of state gifts, the Dawn newspaper reported on Wednesday. According to reports, Khan and his wife have also been barred from holding any public office for 10 years and slapped with a fine of Rs787 million each. It also comes just a day after a special court established under the Official Secrets Act sentenced Imran and his foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to 10 years in prison for the breach of state secrets. Toshakhana is a Persian word for treasure house. As per the rule in Pakistan, government officials can keep gifts if their worth low. However, for extravagant items, they must pay a dramatically reduced fee to the government. The Toshakhana has been under scanner since the emergence of the allegations that Khan purchased the gifts he received, when he was the prime minister of Pakistan, at throwaway rates and sold them off in the open market for staggering profits. Khan was accused of misusing his 2018 to 2022 premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than Rs 140 million ($635,000). As per officials in Pakistan government, the gifts included watches given by a royal family, which allegedly were sold by Khan’s aides in Dubai. The gifts included seven wristwatches, six made by watchmaker Rolex, and the most expensive a “Master Graff limited edition” valued at 85 million Pakistani rupees ($385,000).