On Friday, a Pakistani court sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan to 14 years in prison and his wife to seven years, marking another chapter in the already-imprisoned politician’s legal troubles. The judgment found the couple guilty of corruption related to alleged misdeeds during Khan’s time in office, according to officials and his lawyer.
The case revolves around accusations that Khan and his wife accepted a gift of land from Malik Riaz, a prominent real estate tycoon. Prosecutors argued that the gift was granted in exchange for laundered funds, implicating the couple in a significant corruption scandal.
Riaz was purportedly allowed by Khan to use the laundered money—amounting to 190 million British pounds (approximately $240 million)—to settle fines imposed on him in a separate case. These funds, initially returned to Pakistan by British authorities in 2022, were intended to be deposited into the national exchequer.
Imran Khan has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Since his arrest in 2023, he has maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated and part of a broader effort by his rivals to prevent his return to power.
Khan, ousted from office in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote in parliament, has faced several legal setbacks. He was previously convicted on separate charges of corruption, revealing official secrets, and violating marriage laws. These convictions resulted in sentences of 10, 14, and seven years, respectively.
Under Pakistani law, however, prison terms are typically served concurrently. This means that Khan will serve the duration of the longest sentence handed to him, rather than the cumulative length of all sentences combined.