Why Has Pakistan's Former Prime Minister Been Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison?

The Islamabad court has sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan to three years in prison in connection with a fraud case. This was reported by RIA Novosti, referencing the local newspaper Dawn.

The case is related to the sale of expensive items stored in the 'Tashakhan' state treasury.

According to a report by BBC Radio, the Islamabad court found Khan guilty of failing to declare the money received from the sale of state gifts. The former prime minister denies the charges and intends to appeal.

On May 9, Imran Khan was arrested by the employees of the National Accountability Bureau (economic intelligence). On May 10, the Islamabad court remanded Khan for eight days. Afterwards, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared his detention illegal and ordered the immediate release of the former prime minister.

On May 12, the Islamabad court released Khan on bail. The panel of judges initially set the bail period for Khan's release at two weeks until May 26 but later extended it several times.

It is worth noting that in October 2022, the Pakistan Electoral Commission disqualified Imran Khan from parliamentary office for five years and barred him from being elected or appointed to the federal and provincial legislatures. The commission made this decision after finding Khan guilty of the sale of 52 expensive items stored in the Tashakhan (Pakistan's state treasury) and concealing information about personal assets he received.

Current Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has stated that Imran Khan sold state treasures worth over $630,000 in Dubai.