Imran Khan along with his wife, Bushra Bibi, has just been ordered by the court to serve 17 years each in jail in connection with the Toshakhana corruption case in a landmark ruling. This court decision is the next big legal battle for Mr. Khan who is reportedly embroiled in various other legal battles since he was forced to resign in 2022.
The Toshakhana Case: What happened?
The case is about the gift misconduct allegations against the ex, premier and his spouse, in which Imran Khan and his wife are accused of accepting gifts from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in 2021. The Toshakhana is a government department where gifts given by foreign leaders or dignitaries to Pakistani officials are kept temporarily. The gifts, after being deposited in the Toshakhana, may be bought back by the official who receives the gift after paying a certain percentage of the value.
The district attorney’s office has evidence that Mr. Khan and Mrs. Bibi are holding the handsome gifts that include expensive watches, and jewelry, and other commodities to name a few, while they claim that the gifts were handed over to the Toshakhana. The latter claims that Imran and Bushra sold the goods, and some people say that they cleared up during the valuation process.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
The case of the ex, prime minister and the former first lady went on to court in 2024 wherein 21 witnesses testified against them. On December 16, 2025, the judge found the duo guilty and handed them a prison term of 17 years each. They got 10 years each for criminal breach of trust and 7 years additional under different corruption, related provisions. Rs 10 million was the amount fixed as the fine for each of them.
It was quite a surprise that the court took a milder stance in its judgment by factoring in Khans old age and Bushra Bibis gender as a reason for giving them a less severe punishment. The announcement of the verdict coincided with the presence of both in person at the court in Rawalpindi, Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan has been in police custody for quite some time.
Impact and Reactions
With this latest verdict, Imran Khan’s list of legal troubles just keeps getting longer. Earlier, in 2025, he was handed a sentence in the Al, Qadir Trust case. Despite being in jail, Khan is still vehemently denying the allegations and claiming that the whole thing is a plot against him. His lawyers have already appealed the decision, and the next steps of the case will be in the higher courts.
The issue has stirred up political tensions in Pakistan, where Khan’s supporters are accusing the government of ruling by fear and using the judiciary to get rid of the opposition. On the other hand, international human rights organizations such as the UN, have come out with statements expressing worries over his detention especially the long, lasting solitary confinement.
Conclusion
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi sentenced to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana corruption case is just one example of the legal and political battles that have characterized the ex, PM’s life after his tenure. Now that the appeal is in progress, this case’s eventual verdict might be of great significance not only for the Pakistan political scene but also for far, reaching possibilities.
