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Pressure Piles on Imran Khan Just Days Before Pakistan's Elections
Pressure Piles on Imran Khan Just Days Before Pakistan's Elections
Sputnik India
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges as part of what's called the Toshakhana case, just a day after he was given a 10-year sentence over a cipher case.
2024-01-31T20:15+0530
2024-01-31T20:15+0530
2024-01-31T20:20+0530
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During Wednesday's court case regarding accusations of retaining state gifts in the Toshakhana case, an outcome was reached involving Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison.The ruling against Khan and his wife was handed down just before Pakistan heads into the national general election on February 8, with Khan leading in multiple polls as the most popular leader.The Pettiness of Imran Khan's Case is Shocking: ExpertThe Toshakhana case suggests that Khan and his wife, during his term as prime minister, had received a total of 108 gifts from different heads of state and foreign dignitaries, including expensive jewellery from the Saudi prince.Khan is not the only political leader who has received luxury gifts, but he is the only one paying such a heavy price for them.During a conversation with Sputnik India, Khalid Mahmood, a former defence attache and political observer, pointed out that government disclosures reveal that it wasn't solely PTI chief Imran Khan who benefited from the acquisition of gifts from the official state registry known as the Toshakhana.The attache further said that ex-premier Shehbaz Sharif received a Rolex watch worth Rs140m, (140 million Pakistani Rupees, or US$ 500, 635) while PML-N leader and former defence minister Khawaja Asif kept multiple gifts which were worth at least Rs 44 million, and he had paid just a small amount to retain those gifts.However, according to a former information minister regarding Imran Khan's case a list of these gifts included diamond jewellery, dinner sets and seven watches, six of them Rolexes – the most expensive being a “Master Graff Limited Edition” valued at 85 million rupees ($304,000). Khan said that he had legally purchased the items. But government officials alleged that Khan's aides sold these gifts in Dubai.Pressure Mounting on Khan and SupportersFollowing the ruling, many PTI supporters took to social media to express their frustration. Meanwhile, PTI lashed out at the verdict, branding it to be a "complete destruction of every existing law in Pakistan in 2 days" on its official X account.The party said Imran Khan and his spouse had faced "yet another kangaroo trial in which no right to defence was given to both." Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan said that the “judicial system has buried itself” today.PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan said the same thing to the media outside the courthouse. He asked PTI supporters to "harness and channel these energies for the polling day on February 8, 2024 by ensuring a massive voter turnout."Potential Ramifications for Upcoming ElectionsAccording to Khalid Mahmood, the recent ruling can have numerous effects on the country's upcoming elections and voters turnout.Khan was Pakistan’s PM from August 2018 to April 2022 when he lost a vote of confidence in the parliament. He has been in jail since August last year, facing court battles from multiple cases.
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Pressure Piles on Imran Khan Just Days Before Pakistan's Elections
20:15 31.01.2024 (Updated: 20:20 31.01.2024) Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges as part of what's called the Toshakhana case, just a day after he was given a 10-year sentence over a cipher case.
During Wednesday's court case regarding accusations of retaining state gifts in the Toshakhana case, an outcome was reached involving Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The ruling against Khan and his wife was handed down just before
Pakistan heads into the national general election on February 8, with Khan leading in multiple polls as the most
popular leader.
The Pettiness of Imran Khan's Case is Shocking: Expert
The Toshakhana case suggests that Khan and his wife, during his term as prime minister, had received a total of 108 gifts from different heads of state and foreign dignitaries, including expensive jewellery from the Saudi prince.
Khan is
not the only political leader who has received luxury gifts, but he is the only one paying such a heavy price for them.
During a conversation with
Sputnik India, Khalid Mahmood, a former defence attache and political observer, pointed out that government disclosures reveal that it wasn't solely
PTI chief Imran Khan who benefited from the acquisition of gifts from the official state registry known as the Toshakhana.
"Almost every prime minister from Shaukat Aziz to Shehbaz Sharif has purchased or retained items from the Toshakhana. Pakistan People's Party leader and ex-president, Asif Ali Zardari, kept luxury cars, making that the most expensive purchase on record," Mahmood said.
"The list of retentions and the pettiness of the case against Khan is shocking. They are talking about shirts, handkerchiefs, watches, fruits, ornamental daggers and cufflinks etc,” he added.
The attache further said that ex-premier Shehbaz Sharif received a Rolex watch worth Rs140m, (140 million Pakistani Rupees, or US$ 500, 635) while PML-N leader and former defence minister Khawaja Asif kept multiple gifts which were worth at least Rs 44 million, and he had paid just a small amount to retain those gifts.
However, according to a former information minister regarding Imran Khan's case a list of these gifts included
diamond jewellery, dinner sets and seven watches, six of them Rolexes – the most expensive being a
“Master Graff Limited Edition” valued at 85 million rupees ($304,000). Khan said that
he had legally purchased the items. But government officials alleged that Khan's aides sold these gifts in
Dubai.
Pressure Mounting on Khan and Supporters
Following the ruling, many PTI supporters took to social media to express their frustration. Meanwhile, PTI lashed out at the verdict, branding it to be a "complete destruction of every existing law in Pakistan in 2 days" on its official X account.
The party said Imran Khan and his spouse had faced "yet another kangaroo trial in which no right to defence was given to both." Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan said that the “judicial system has buried itself” today.
Sputnik India spoke to a PTI supporter and lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous out of safety concerns. He said that Khan's wife had no relation to the Toshakhana case nor was there any case gift registered in her name.
"All of this is only to bring Khan under pressure, jailing his wife is just to add to Khan's mental anguish, to torture him," the supporter said. He added that his advice to PTI supporters is to remain calm, not take to the streets and focus on the upcoming polls.
PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan said the same thing to the media outside the courthouse. He asked PTI supporters to
"harness and channel these energies for the polling day on February 8, 2024 by ensuring a massive voter turnout."Potential Ramifications for Upcoming Elections
According to Khalid Mahmood, the recent ruling can have numerous effects on the country's upcoming elections and voters turnout.
"Khan's imprisonment and him being barred from holding any political office could potentially dishearten the masses, or it could boost voter's sentiment and reshape the dynamics of the political landscape in the country. It is hard to predict, but we will soon see," Mahmood said.
Khan was Pakistan’s PM from August 2018 to April 2022 when he lost a vote of confidence in the parliament. He has been in jail since August last year, facing court battles from multiple cases.
