The recent case accused Khan and his wife of retaining and selling state gifts during his tenure as the prime minister. The court not only imposed a 14-year prison term but also disqualified Khan from holding any public office for several years. This decision comes just a week before Pakistan's parliamentary elections scheduled for February 8.
Khan's lawyer, Babar Awan, criticized the rushed nature of the conviction, stating that the judge did not wait for the arrival of Khan's legal team. Awan asserted that Khan's fundamental rights had been violated, and they plan to challenge the conviction in higher courts.
Zulfiqar Bukhari, chief spokesperson for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI), confirmed the conviction and sentencing, acknowledging the setback for the former prime minister.
This development follows the indictment of Khan and his wife three weeks ago on graft charges related to retaining state gifts from Saudi Arabia's government, including jewelry and watches. Despite pleading not guilty, the court's decision is another setback for Khan, who was ousted from power in April 2022 through a parliamentary no-confidence vote.
While Khan remains popular among supporters, his legal challenges continue to mount. Currently serving time on a previous corruption conviction, the former prime minister faces a multitude of other legal cases that loom over his political future. The hurried nature of the recent conviction adds another layer of contention to an already complex legal situation for Imran Khan.