By Zainab Shafiq 
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison in a land corruption case that is likely to further strain the political landscape in the country. The verdict was handed down by an anti-corruption court in Rawalpindi on Friday, where Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023.
Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was also convicted in the case and received a seven-year sentence. She had been on bail but was arrested immediately following the decision. Both Khan and his wife are accused of accepting land from a real estate developer in lieu of political concessions when Khan was the prime minister between 2018 and 2022.
The land, which included 60 acres near Islamabad, is believed to have been granted to the couple in exchange for illegal advantages. The court also directed the seizure of the land.
The case is related to the Al-Qadir Trust, a welfare organization that Khan and his wife established. Prosecutors claim that the trust was a sham to hide the illegal land deal, while Khan’s party claims that the land was meant for a spiritual and educational institution.
Despite the verdict, Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has stated that it would appeal the verdict in higher courts. PTI officials have labeled the ruling politically motivated, coming at a time when Khan’s party and the government are reportedly holding talks to ease political tensions. Khan’s supporters have made their disapproval known, and the former prime minister has labeled the conviction as a “joke” from jail.
This conviction represents a significant dent to Khan’s political prospects coming hot on the heels of the stunning performance put in by PTI in the general election for 2024 where the party’s candidates gained the most number of seats but had to fight the election as independents.
There have been countless charges against him since his overthrow in 2022, from corruption to inciting violence; many of those have been dismissed, but his followers will likely remain vocal in protests and demonstrations especially since he remains controversially jailed.
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