Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan got a big relief on Monday.
Islamabad High Court suspended the 14-year sentence awarded to him and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana corruption case.
A few days before the general elections in the country, there were allegations of corruption in government gifts received from Toshakhana. In this regard, the accountability court had sentenced both of them to 14-14 years in jail on January 31.
Both challenged the sentence in the Islamabad High Court, where a two-member bench led by Chief Justice Aamir Farooq heard the case.
On Monday, the Islamabad High Court granted temporary relief to the couple by suspending their sentence in the case and granting them bail. However, the court announced that his appeal against the conviction would be heard after the Eid holidays next month.
It is possible that Khan may not be released as he has been convicted in other cases. They cannot be released until they are cleared of the charges.
Similarly, Bushra has also been convicted in another case and may not be released even after his sentence is suspended.
Accused of keeping expensive government gifts for himself
In the Toshakhana corruption case, 71-year-old Khan is accused of possessing expensive government gifts received during his tenure as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Under Toshakhana rules, government officials can keep gifts after paying a price, but the gift must first be deposited in Toshakhana.
Khan and his wife either failed to deposit the gift or allegedly acquired it at a lower price by using their authority. Khan was convicted in the Toshakhana case on January 30, a day after he was sentenced to 10 years in jail in the Sifar case.
Earlier, Imran was also convicted in a separate Toshakhana case in August 2023, due to which he was arrested.
The latest conviction was based on a charge of abusing his authority to keep gifts he or his spouse received during his tenure as prime minister.
It was filed by the National Accountability Bureau. Khan has so far been convicted in 4 different cases since he lost power in April 2022. He has got bail in both the Toshakhana cases.