• Imran Khan and wife Bushra Bibi sentenced to 17 years in prison.
• The case involves illegal trade and undervaluation of state gifts from Saudi Arabia.
• Khan claims the charges are politically motivated and plans to appeal the ruling.

A Pakistani court has sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison each for their roles in the Toshakhana II case, which involved allegations of fraudulent activities concerning state gifts. The ruling was announced by Special Judge Shahrukh Arjumand inside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, marking another legal setback for Khan, who has faced a myriad of charges since his ouster in 2022, according to India Times and Los Angeles Times.

The verdict, delivered on Saturday, entails a conjoined prison sentence that includes 10 years for criminal breach of trust and an additional seven years for corruption, resulting from the illegal retention and undervaluation of luxury gifts, including a Bulgari jewelry set from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to BBC and AA.

Khan and Bibi, both of whom have claimed their innocence, argue that the case is a politically motivated attack following Khan's ousting from power. Their lawyer has indicated plans to appeal the ruling, which they describe as a sham trial without evidence of corruption, according to Al Jazeera and Le Monde.

The charges stem from an alleged valuation discrepancy of state gifts, where the couple reportedly declared the value as approximately $10,000, significantly lower than the actual market value of about $285,521. Prosecutors allege that this manipulation facilitated their attempt to purchase the gifts at undervalued prices, thus contravening Pakistan's strict regulations on state gifts, according to Los Angeles Times and AA.

This sentencing adds to a growing list of legal challenges for Khan, who has already faced multiple convictions since his imprisonment in August 2023. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, criticized the court process as a "kangaroo court," reflecting allegations of biased judicial proceedings aimed at politically marginalizing Khan, according to BBC and Los Angeles Times.