Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan arrested, sentenced to three years in jail

This is the second time Imran Khan has been arrested.

Imran Khan (Image via NDTV)

Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan who also served as the Prime Minister of the country for four years was arrested and sentenced to three years in jail on Saturday (5 August). The World Cup-winning captain was sentenced to prison by a trial court after Khan was found guilty in the Toshakhana case which deals with failing to declare the proceeds of state gifts to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He was also fined PKR 100,000, the maximum possible penalty allowed under the law. Nevertheless, Khan’s political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has already filed an appeal with the country’s Supreme Court.

“Imran Khan deliberately submitted fake details [of Toshakhana gifts] to the ECP and is found guilty of corrupt practices,” Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar stated (via The Indian Express).

This is not the first time Khan has been arrested. Imran Khan has been facing several charges and hence was arrested on 9 May this year. However, he was released two days later when the Supreme Court termed his arrest illegal. But Khan has been making rounds of the court with almost 150 cases filed against him.

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What is the Toshakhan case in which Imran Khan is convicted?

Imran Khan arrested — Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan (Image via Mint)

The Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division which stores gifts and other expensive items received by public officials and was established in 1974. Imran Khan, who served as the PM of Pakistan between 2018 and 2022, was accused of concealing information on gifts presented to Toshakhana as well as the proceeds from the “illegal” sale of some of these gifts which violated the Toshakhan rules.

According to its rules, it’s compulsory for officials to report the gifts and other such materials received by them to the Cabinet Division. But Imran Khan refrained from disclosing the details of the gifts he received as Pakistan’s PM. Khan justified his actions saying his disclosing the details would impact his relations with the countries he received gifts from.

Khan also admitted to selling a few of these gifts including a Graff watch gifted to him by the Saudi Arabian crown prince, Rolex watches, expensive cufflinks, a valuable pen, and a ring.