Pakistan's Imran Khan handed 14 years jail term in land graft case

STORY: Supporters and family of Pakistan's Imran Khan protested outside a prison on Friday, where the former prime minister was sentenced to 14 years behind bars over land corruption charges.

It's a setback to nascent talks between his party and the government, aimed at cooling political instability.

The anti-graft court delivered the verdict in the garrison city of Rawalpindi where Khan has been held since August 2023.

His wife Bushra Bibi was also given seven years in prison.

The chairman of Khan's PTI party, Gohar Khan, called it a "witch hunt" and said they would fight the court decision.

"He is simply there in jail to put pressure on him, and it’s a political victimisation. We would file an appeal against these judgments and sentences in Islamabad High Court and we hope we will get justice."

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Khan had been indicted on charges that he and his wife were gifted land by a real estate developer during his premiership from 2018 to 2022 in exchange for illegal favours.

The couple had pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors said a trust set up by Khan was a front to illegally receive the property, valued at up to seven billion rupees, or around $25 million.

Khan's party argued the land was not for personal gain and was for a spiritual and educational institution.

The announcement of the verdict was delayed three times, amid reconciliation talks between PTI and the government.

The two sides have been at loggerheads since Khan was ousted from office in 2022.

The verdict is the biggest setback for Khan and his party since a surprisingly good showing in the 2024 general election.

PTI's candidates were forced to contest as independents but won the most seats.

However they were still short of the majority needed to form a government.

Khan has faced dozens of cases ranging from charges of graft and misuse of power, to inciting violence against the state after being removed from office in a parliamentary vote of confidence in 2022.

He has either been acquitted or had his sentences suspended in most cases.