Imran Khan, Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have filed appeals against their recent convictions for corruption, according to their lawyer. The couple was sentenced earlier this month, with Khan receiving a 14-year prison sentence and Bibi sentenced to seven years, in connection with their welfare foundation, the Al-Qadir Trust.
Khan, 72, has been in custody since August 2023, facing nearly 200 charges, which he claims are politically motivated. Speaking outside Islamabad High Court on Monday, Khan’s lawyer, Khalid Chaudhry, confirmed that the appeals had been submitted and would undergo clerical processes before a hearing is scheduled.
Since his arrest, Khan has been convicted four times, with two convictions overturned and sentences in two other cases suspended. The graft court found the couple guilty of “corruption and corrupt practices” related to the Al-Qadir Trust. The case has been postponed multiple times, and Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has claimed that the legal proceedings are an attempt to pressure him into cutting a deal with the government to step back from politics.
Before his conviction, Khan had alleged that he was “indirectly approached” about the possibility of being placed under house arrest at his residence on the outskirts of Islamabad. Bushra Bibi, a faith healer who married Khan shortly before his 2018 election victory, is currently incarcerated at the same facility as her husband in Rawalpindi, a city near Islamabad.
Despite his imprisonment, Khan’s influence on Pakistan’s political landscape remains significant. His popularity continues to challenge the stability of the ruling coalition government, which kept PTI from power in last year’s elections. Khan’s supporters have held violent protests in recent months, and PTI has planned further rallies next month to mark the one-year anniversary of the controversial elections, which were plagued by allegations of rigging.
Khan’s removal from office in 2022 through a no-confidence vote marked the beginning of an unprecedented political battle. He has been vocal in criticizing Pakistan’s military leaders, despite their denials of political interference. A UN panel of experts has stated that Khan’s detention lacked legal grounds and seemed aimed at disqualifying him from future political office.
Khan’s PTI party won the most seats in last February’s elections, but was excluded from power as a coalition government, seen as more amenable to military influence, took control.
