Islamabad, Aug 5: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to three years in prison and disqualified from politics for five years by a Pakistan district and sessions court in the Toshakhana case, which involved the alleged illegal selling of state gifts. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on the PTI chief, as per Geo News.
Khan was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore immediately after being convicted in the Toshakhana case, as reported by Geo News. The trial court, presided over by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar, ruled that the charges against the former prime minister were proven.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had set aside the session court’s previous verdict on the Toshakhana reference against Imran Khan and ordered the lower court to rehear the case.
The Toshakhana case was based on allegations that Imran Khan “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana during his tenure as prime minister and the proceeds from their reported sales. The case was registered by ruling party lawmakers, based on a criminal complaint filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Earlier, Khan had defended himself, claiming that the gifts were sold according to the rules, and everything had been declared in FDR. However, legal proceedings led to his arrest on charges of corruption in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust, which he co-owns with his wife, Bushra Bibi.
Following his arrest, demonstrations were held by his party, PTI, which turned violent in some places. Subsequent crackdowns resulted in arrests across the country, with those accused of involvement in the May 9 violence being tried at military courts.
