World Cup Winning Captain Imran Khan Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Fraud Case
Imran Khan (X.com)
Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, has been sentenced to a 14-year prison term in the Toshakhana reference case on Wednesday.
The case, filed in August 2022 by Pakistan's coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), alleges that Imran failed to disclose complete information about gifts received at Toshakhana and concealed details about the "illegal" sale of some gifts.
Toshakhana is a department under the cabinet division in Pakistan responsible for storing gifts and valuables received by officials, who are required to report all received gifts to the department.
In 2018, during his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran received numerous gifts, but he did not disclose details of many presents, citing potential impacts on diplomatic relations.
The case revolves around the alleged unauthorized sale of gifts received during Imran's prime ministership without declaring the proceeds for tax purposes. Imran has been fined PKR 787 million (approximately US $2.9 million), and his political ban, initially set for five years, has been extended to ten years.
This verdict follows Imran Khan's previous ten-year jail term in a separate case where he was accused of leaking state secrets. The current 14-year sentence will run concurrently with the ten-year term under Pakistani legal norms.
Imran Khan has faced legal challenges since his ousting as Prime Minister in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote, with over a hundred cases filed against him. This marks the first time his wife Bushra Bibi has been sentenced to prison.
Despite legal and political setbacks, Imran Khan remains a popular figure in Pakistan, according to recent independent polls. However, neither he nor his party will be eligible to contest upcoming elections.
Turning to his international cricket career, Imran Khan was a prominent player for Pakistan, participating in 88 Tests and 175 ODIs. Initially known as an outstanding fast bowler, he evolved into one of the best all-rounders in the game during the 1980s, alongside contemporaries Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee, and Ian Botham.
In the last decade of his international cricket career, Imran played 51 Tests, maintaining an impressive average of 50 with the bat and astonishing 19 with the ball. He led Pakistan to their first series victory in England in 1987, and the pinnacle of his career was lifting the 1992 World Cup trophy under his inspirational leadership.
Throughout his illustrious career, the now 71-year-old received eight Player of the Series awards in Tests, ranking fourth all-time. However, his life took a different course after entering politics, leading to various challenges and ultimately his imprisonment.
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