A Pakistani court on Friday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, after finding them guilty in a high-profile corruption case, according to officials and Khan’s lawyer.
The couple was accused of accepting land as a gift from real estate tycoon Malik Riaz in exchange for laundered money during Khan’s tenure as prime minister. Prosecutors alleged that Riaz used funds—amounting to £190 million ($240 million)—returned to Pakistan by British authorities in 2022 to pay fines imposed on him in an unrelated case. Instead of depositing the money into the national exchequer, the funds were allegedly misused in the deal involving Khan and his wife.
Khan has consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the charges as politically motivated efforts by his rivals to block his return to office. Since his arrest in 2023, he has maintained that the cases against him are part of a broader conspiracy.
The verdict comes after Khan’s earlier convictions in three other cases, including corruption, revealing official secrets, and violating marriage laws. He received sentences of 10, 14, and seven years in those cases. However, under Pakistani law, his sentences will be served concurrently, with the longest sentence determining the total duration.
Imran Khan, who was removed from office in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote in parliament, continues to face mounting legal challenges as his political future remains uncertain.
