Pakistan's ruling alliance has expressed satisfaction over the conviction and arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case related to the Toshakhana scandal. The verdict was handed down by an Islamabad trial court, which found Khan guilty of "corrupt practices" and sentenced him to three years in prison. Additionally, the court imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on Khan, stating that he would serve an additional six months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.
The court's order cited Khan's dishonesty in providing false and inaccurate information about gifts he received from the Toshakhana, a repository for presents given to government officials by foreign dignitaries. The ruling was hailed by Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, who asserted that the detailed verdict proved Khan's involvement in corruption by making and publishing false statements, according to PTI.
The verdict, which comes after approximately 40 hearings and almost 14 months of investigation, has intensified the ongoing political impasse in the country. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made a terse comment on Khan's conviction, suggesting that he received what he had previously done to others.
In contrast, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif took to social media to post a picture of Khan with his party leaders eating sweets following the arrest of former Premier Nawaz Sharif, making veiled accusations about some of the current leaders who were once associated with Sharif.
Notably, former ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, expressed concern over Khan's arrest, labeling it a reflection of the lack of full democracy in Pakistan. Haqqani opined that while individuals might disagree with Khan's actions and ever-changing views, it is essential to recognize the significance of a fair democratic process.
This recent conviction marks the second time Imran Khan has faced legal action. He was previously arrested in May, in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, which led to widespread violence and a severe crackdown against his party. Despite his arrest, Khan continues to assert his innocence and urged his supporters to continue peaceful protests for their rights and freedom.
The trial court's verdict came one day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) set aside a session court's verdict that upheld the maintainability of the Toshakhana case for criminal proceedings against Khan. The case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the grounds of Khan's alleged concealment of gift details, led to his disqualification in October 2022.
Khan's defense maintains that he retained gifts from the Toshakhana, valued at over Rs 140 million, following proper procedures. The case revolves around allegations that Khan deliberately concealed details of gifts and proceeds from their reported sales during his tenure as Prime Minister.
With Khan facing over 140 cases across the country, including charges of terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption, and murder, the political landscape in Pakistan remains highly charged. Khan was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy against him due to his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China, and Afghanistan.
