Imran Khan, wife appeal convictions in state gifts case

Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have filed separate appeals in Pakistan’s Islamabad High Court, challenging their latest convictions in a corruption case involving state gifts.

The appeals relate to a Dec. 20 verdict by a special court that sentenced the couple to a combined 17 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The court handed each 10 years for criminal breach of trust under Pakistan’s Penal Code and seven years for criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Khan was also fined PKR16.4 million, about $59,000, with an additional six months in prison if the fine is not paid.

The case centers on a Bvlgari jewelry set Khan received during a foreign visit in 2021, when he was prime minister.

Prosecutors alleged the gift was deliberately undervalued to reduce the amount payable to retain it, causing financial loss to Pakistan’s state treasury.

Under Pakistani law, public officials must declare gifts received from foreign dignitaries and either deposit them in the state gift repository, known as Toshakhana, or pay an assessed price to retain them.

In their appeals, Khan and Bibi argue the convictions are politically motivated and part of what they describe as a sustained campaign against them following Khan’s removal from office in 2022.

They accuse investigative agencies, including the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency, of acting under political influence.

The filings cite alleged procedural violations, including the absence of a formal police complaint, rushed investigations, and the transfer of the case from NAB to the FIA without due process.

They also argue the prosecution violates protections against double jeopardy, saying this is the fourth case brought against them over similar Toshakhana allegations.

The couple maintains that no criminal intent was established and that the gifts were declared, deposited and retained in line with official policy after payment.

Khan’s appeal also argues he does not qualify as a “public servant” under the relevant law, as he was an elected official rather than a civil servant.

Khan describes himself in court filings as a political prisoner, saying he has faced nearly 300 legal cases since his ouster through a no-confidence vote, which he characterizes as an orchestrated conspiracy.

Bushra Bibi’s appeal echoes those claims, portraying her prosecution as an attempt to pressure and sideline her husband politically.

The latest appeal adds to a long list of legal cases against the 72-year-old former cricket star and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

Since 2023, Khan has been convicted in at least six major cases, with cumulative sentences exceeding 65 years.

Those include a three-year sentence in an initial Toshakhana case, later suspended, a 10-year sentence in a cipher case that was overturned in 2024, and seven years in a case related to his marriage, also overturned.

Other convictions include two separate 14-year sentences in Toshakhana-related and Al-Qadir Trust cases, one of which was suspended, while the other remains under appeal.

The current case adds another 17-year sentence linked to the Bvlgari jewelry set.

Bushra Bibi has been implicated in five of the cases and has received sentences totaling more than 50 years, though several have been suspended or overturned.

Pakistan’s higher courts have granted Khan relief in four cases through acquittals or sentence suspensions, often citing procedural flaws or insufficient evidence. Bibi has received similar relief in three cases.

Supporters of Khan say the pattern highlights politically driven prosecutions, while supporters of the current government argue the cases reflect accountability for alleged corruption during his 2018–2022 term.

One major case still pending is the Al-Qadir Trust matter, in which the couple was convicted in January 2024 over an alleged 190 million pound settlement involving property tycoon Malik Riaz.

Their appeal in that case has remained pending for nearly 11 months, with repeated adjournments. Court officials said in May 2025 it may not be heard until 2026 due to a backlog of criminal appeals.

The Bvlgari case appeals were filed by a legal team led by Supreme Court advocates Salman Akram Raja and Barrister Salman Safdar.

Khan and Bibi remain in custody at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where they have been held intermittently since 2023.