EXPLAINER

The ex-prime minister denies profiting from the sale of “state gifts,” but prosecutors claim their value was concealed.

A court in Pakistan has sentenced Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 14 years in prison for illegally buying and selling government gifts just a week before general elections.

The former prime minister and his wife were also fined 787 million rupees ($2.8 million) each in a case known as the asset concealment or Toshakhana case.

The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-leader was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday for leaking state secrets. The former prime minister said the cases were politically motivated and aimed at keeping him and his party out of the elections.

So what’s behind the latest ruling and what gifts were part of it?

What is the Toshakhana or State Gifts case against Khan?

The former prime minister was accused of abusing his term as prime minister in 2018-2022 to unlawfully buy and sell gifts kept in the Toshakhana, the treasury – a government-owned department.

The Toshakhana stores gifts received by Prime Ministers, Presidents, Ministers, Members of Parliament and government officials. Khan was sentenced to three years in prison in August for selling government gifts worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees ($500,000).

The now suspended conviction in August was brought by the Electoral Commission. The cricketer-turned-politician’s conviction on Wednesday came in the same case by the anti-corruption agency.

Khan and Bibi were indicted three weeks ago on allegations that they bought gifts – including jewelry and watches – at discounted prices and sold them at market value. They pleaded not guilty.

What gifts were mentioned by Khan in the Toshakhana case?

Pakistan’s Information Minister has listed about 108 gifts, including perfumes, diamond jewelry, dinner sets and cufflinks.

The gifts reportedly also include seven watches, six of them Rolex. The most expensive was a “Master Graff Limited Edition” worth 85 million rupees (US$300,000).

Why did Khan’s handling of the gifts become problematic?

Expensive gifts from foreign dignitaries to Pakistani officials range from Rolex watches to bulletproof BMW cars to a 21-karat gold crown.

In Pakistan, government leaders are allowed to buy gifts from foreign dignitaries and heads of state, but they are not usually sold. If this is the case, the income must be declared.

In many cases, politicians and bureaucrats have purchased luxury gift items at significantly cheaper prices.

Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf – who died last February – retained a pearl necklace worth about $250 in 2006 by paying just 750 rupees (about $12 at the exchange rate at the time).

Khan said he declared the items and purchased them legally. He has also denied allegations that he held on to or benefited from government gifts.

But prosecutors said Khan failed to properly disclose his income after selling the gifts. The former prime minister’s aides were also accused of selling some gifts in Dubai and “hiding” their value.

His wife, Bushra Bibi, became involved in the case following alleged leaked audio recordings of her telling the prime minister’s former special assistant Zulfiqar Bukhari to sell some of Khan’s watches, which opposition leaders said were state-run received gifts.

Bukhari said the audio recording was fake and he did not sell watches. The alleged buyer of a watch also stated that he had not made such a purchase.

Where is Imran Khan now?

Khan has been in prison since August, accused of more than 150 cases ranging from corruption to “terrorism.” He is currently being held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Bushra Bibi surrendered in prison on Wednesday.

Khan’s lawyers are appealing the verdict.