Pak ex-PM Imran, wife jailed for 14 yrs in corruption case

A Pakistani antigraft court jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan for 14 years each on charges of illegally selling state gifts, his party and lawyers said on Wednesday, just over a week before a national election.

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The verdict, which marked the third conviction handed down to the embattled ex-cricket star in the last few months, also included a 10-year disqualification from holding public office, his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said.

Bushra Khan, commonly known as Bushra Bibi, gave herself up for arrest shortly after the verdict, PTI added.

The 14-year imprisonment is harsher than the 10-year sentence given to Khan on Tuesday on charges. revealing state secrets, and comes as Pakistan prepares for an election on Feb. 8. It was not immediately clear if the two sentences for Khan would run concurrently.

"Another sad day in our judicial system history, which is being dismantled," Khan's media team said, repeating his denial of the charges.

"No cross-questioning allowed, no final argument concluded and decision pops up like a pre-determined process in play... this ridiculous decision will also be challenged." Khan's lawyer, Intezar Panjutha, told Reuters: "It is a sham verdict."

Khan and his wife were charged with illegally selling gifts, worth more than 140 million rupees ($501,000) and received during his 2018-2022 premiership, from a state treasury known locally known as the "Toshakhana".

Government officials have alleged Khan's aides sold the gifts in Dubai.