A Pakistani court has indicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a corruption case while he remains imprisoned, according to officials and his political party, reports AP
The charges were read to Khan and Bibi in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, where both pleaded not guilty. The couple is accused of retaining and selling state gifts, including jewellery received during Khan's tenure, at a price below their market value.
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Pakistani law permits government officials and politicians to retain gifts received from foreign dignitaries while in office, provided they pay their market value and declare any earnings from their sale.
Following their indictment, the case was adjourned until 18 December. This marks the second corruption case involving the couple. Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claim that all charges against them are politically motivated to ensure his continued imprisonment. Khan has been incarcerated for over a year following his conviction in a separate case in 2023.
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Since his removal through a no-confidence vote in parliament in 2022, Khan has faced nearly 200 criminal cases.