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New Delhi
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 14 years with 'rigorous punishment' in the Toshakhana case, Pakistan's Geo News reported. The latest prison sentence against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader came just eight days ahead of scheduled national elections in Pakistan and a day after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets.
The two were also disqualified from holding any public office for 10 years.
Imran and Bushra were also slapped with a fine of $2.81 million. While Khan is already in prison, visuals on social media showed Bushra Bibi reaching the Adiala Jail for arrest.
But wasn't Imran Khan already sentenced in Toshakhana case?
Yes. Imran Khan was arrested on August 5, 2023, when an Islamabad trial court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts during his prime ministerial tenure, collectively dubbed as Toshakhana case. The court had also barred him from participating in active politics for five years.
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That sentence was suspended by Islamabad High Court on August 29, 2023. But Imran Khan remained in prison due to another case against him.
Also read | Imran Khan admits losing cipher during interrogation by FIA in Attock jail
The latest sentence against him comes after the Pakistani army-dominated National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a fresh reference against Khan and Bushra in an accountability court for allegedly retaining a jewellery set received from the Saudi crown prince against an undervalued assessment.
What does it mean?
The verdict comes right ahead of the February 8 elections in Pakistan.
Initial reactions in the Pakistani media suggest that the implication of the verdicts against Khan would be important on February 8.
"Would they [PTI leaders] be demoralised and stay in their homes or would they come out politically charged," one senior journalist told Pakistan's Geo news.