Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former cricket star turned politician, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for fraudulently acquiring state gifts. The case revolves around luxury watches and jewelry gifted to Khan by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during official visits while he was prime minister. Under Pakistani law, government officials and politicians must purchase such gifts from the state at market value and declare any proceeds from selling them. However, prosecutors alleged that Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, paid a heavily discounted fee for the gifts, violating these rules. The couple pleaded not guilty, but the court found them guilty of criminal breach of trust and corruption. This conviction adds to a series of legal setbacks for Khan, who is already serving a 14-year sentence in a separate corruption case. His party claims the cases are politically motivated, and his spokesperson, Zulfi Bukhari, criticized the verdict as a tool for selective prosecution. Khan's sons have expressed fears for their father's well-being, claiming he is being 'psychologically tortured' in a 'death cell'. The former prime minister remains one of Pakistan's most polarizing figures, and his party continues to be sidelined from power.
