Rawalpindi court Adiala sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 10 years in prison each.
The court found both of them guilty of corruption and illegal transfer of Toshakhana gifts. According to legal expert Hafiz Ehsan, the case began when Saudi Arabia sent gifts to Pakistani officials, which were required to be deposited with the relevant departments in Pakistan as per the 2018 rules.
However, the former prime minister and Bushra Bibi did not register the gifts properly, but rather illegally processed them through letters from deputy multi-secretaries.
The court was told that the value of the gifts was about 38 million euros (about Rs. 715 million in Pakistani currency), which was understated and deposited contrary to legal procedures. The prosecution argued that this act constituted misuse of official authority and deliberate undervaluation of the gifts.
The NAB filed a reference in the case in August 2022, which was later heard in the Accountability Court. According to the court’s verdict, both the former prime minister and Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 10 years in prison each, along with fines.
The case was not political victimization but was framed as enforcement of the rule of law and protection of public trust as state gifts are state property. Toshakhana rules exist to prevent personal enrichment through public office.
The case was tried as a Special Court matter under PPC 409, PPC 109, read with PCA 1947 Section 5(2). The prosecution said these were accountability provisions, not political tools.The court accepted that the prosecution case was transaction-specific.
It centered on a Bvlgari jewellery gift set received in May 2021.The prosecution alleged the gift was not deposited, deliberately undervalued, and retained at a nominal price.
The applicable law was Toshakhana Procedures 2018, not later amendments. Clause-I of the rules requires immediate reporting and deposit of all gifts.
The court held this duty was clearly defined and breached under PC 409, the court found entrustment and dishonest retention established.
Abetment under PPC 109 was upheld based on the alleged role of intermediaries and appraisers. Criminal misconduct under PCA 1947 was also sustained and judgment said authority was misused for illegal pecuniary gain.
The court relied on what it termed multi-source corroborated evidence and included procedural records, appraiser statements, and foreign verification. According to the record, the gift was entered in registers without physical deposit.
A private appraiser allegedly admitted undervaluation under conveyed instructions and provided price lists, which the court termed unlawful endorsement.
Through MLA channels, Bulgari Italy provided invoice benchmarks. Two items were traced at €300,000 and €80,000. The court accepted loss quantification as central. It noted a claimed loss of Rs 32.85 million to the national exchequer.
The necklace and earrings were assessed at Rs 1.6 million combined. Their claimed actual value exceeded Rs 71 million. On due process, the judgment recorded judicial supervision throughout.
FIA investigations, witness statements under CrPC, and an approver statement before a magistrate were noted. The defence was given opportunity to respond. Questionnaires were served and replies considered.
In sentencing, the court cited seriousness of Section 409 PPC. It said breach of trust by a public servant demanded deterrence. The judgment stressed public interest as state gifts, cannot be treated as personal perks
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