Imran Khan and his wife's declaration of innocence in a corruption case

According to ISNA, Pakistani authorities announced that Imran Khan, the former imprisoned Prime Minister of Pakistan, and his wife Bushra Bibi appeared in a court in Islamabad today in connection with their accusation of accepting a piece of land as a “gift” from an investor. In exchange for huge amounts of money laundered, the real estate sector pleaded not guilty.

This is the second legal case brought against Imran Khan and his wife on charges of corruption during the presence of the former star of the Pakistan Cricket League as the prime minister of this country.

Pakistani prosecutors accused the couple of using a family charity to establish a university on land they received as a gift from prominent real estate investor Malik Riaz. According to the content of this case, in exchange for this gift, this financier received money laundered amounts worth 190 million British pounds ($240 million), which were returned to Pakistan by the British authorities.

Imran Khan was dismissed as prime minister in April 2022 after receiving a vote of no confidence from the Pakistani parliament and is currently serving several prison terms.

According to the Associated Press, nearly 170 legal cases have been filed against this former Prime Minister of Pakistan due to numerous charges such as corruption, terrorism and inciting people to violence. Some time ago, he and his wife were found guilty in another corruption case due to the accusation of selling government gifts while being in power. Imran and Bushra Bibi have also been sentenced to seven years in prison in a case of violating marriage laws in 2018.

Rejecting his accusations since his imprisonment last year, Imran Khan emphasized that all the accusations against him are a conspiracy by his rivals to prevent his return to power.

He could not be nominated in the February 8th parliamentary elections, but his rivals from the Pakistan Muslim League party belonging to Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister of this country, were announced as the first party in the National Assembly of Pakistan, although they do not have the majority of seats. Imran Khan's party won the most seats (without getting a majority).

Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of Nawaz Sharif, who himself stepped down as Pakistan's prime minister a few months ago, is now tasked with forming a coalition government when Pakistan's new parliament begins work on Friday.

Imran Khan appeared before the judge on Tuesday, which was held under tight security at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi city. His wife, who is imprisoned in her hometown Islamabad, was brought to this prison along with a security convoy.

Imran Khan's family lawyers team announced that he and his wife pleaded not guilty to their recent charges.

Imran Khan's party known as “Tehrik Insaf” condemned the trial of him and his wife on Tuesday and considered it a “one-sided” process because the team of lawyers of this former prime minister had limited access to their client and the media were not allowed to cover the trial. .

So far, Imran Khan has been convicted in three separate verdicts due to charges of corruption, disclosure of official secrets, and violation of marriage laws, and in connection with each of these convictions, he has been sentenced to 10, 14, and seven years in prison, respectively. Imran Khan has appealed for all these sentences.

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