17-01-25
Emma Wijnen
Team Pakistan Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
Imran Khan, the former cricketer and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been one of the most influential figures in Pakistan’s politics. After rising to power in 2018, Khan became the Prime Minister, but his time in office was full of challenges, including political conflicts and economic issues. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote, and since then, he has faced several legal cases.
The latest legal blow to Khan came today on January 17th, when a court convicted him and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Al-Qadir Trust case. They were found guilty of misusing 190 million rupees that was meant for charity work. The money was raised by the trust set up by Khan and Bushra Bibi for social projects, but investigators found that it was spent on personal expenses and properties linked to them. The court sentenced both Khan and his wife to prison for respectively 14 and 7 years.
Despite the conviction, Imran Khan has remained defiant. In a statement after the verdict, he promised to serve his jail sentence with dignity, saying the charges against him are politically motivated. His supporters, who view him as a victim of unfair treatment, continue to rally behind him. The court’s decision has deepened the political divide in Pakistan, with many questioning the future of Khan’s PTI party, which has already been weakened by the ongoing legal troubles.
Sources and further readings:
Hussain A, ‘Pakistan’s ex-PM Imran Khan, wife sentenced to jail in corruption case’ (Aljazeera, 17 January 2024) <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/17/pakistans-ex-pm-imran-khan-wife-sentenced-to-jail-in-corruption-case> accessed on 17 January 2024.
Naseer T, ‘Legal woes deepen as Imran and Bushra convicted in £190m Al-Qadir Trust case’ (Dawn, 17 January 2024) <https://www.dawn.com/news/1885831/legal-woes-deepen-as-imran-and-bushra-convicted-in-ps190m-al-qadir-trust-case> accessed 17 January 2024.
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