Toshakhana-2 verdict sparks PTI outrage over Imran Khan sentence, with the party choosing confrontation over accountability once again. PTI leaders reacted sharply after a special court handed down sentences to the former prime minister and his spouse Bushra Bibi in the long running Toshakhana-2 case. The verdict arrived after months of hearings inside Adiala jail and closed another chapter in a scandal that PTI leaders keep trying to politicize.
The special court sentenced Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison each. The case revolved around the under priced purchase of luxury state gifts, including an expensive Bulgari jewellery set. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand delivered the ruling after 80 hearings. The judgment detailed violations under sections 34 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 5 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947. The court also imposed a fine of Rs164 million.
PTI responded with familiar claims of victimhood. The party accused the court of announcing the decision without the presence of the accused and their lawyers. PTI leaders used social media to label the proceedings unfair and staged. They also circulated a video of Imran Khan sister Aleema Khan sitting in a car and questioning security restrictions outside the jail.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan used the moment to address an opposition conference alongside veteran politicians. He claimed the verdict disappointed the public and repeated calls for dialogue with the coalition government. PTI leaders continue to frame legal accountability as a political dispute rather than address the substance of the case.
PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja echoed the party line while speaking to the media. He argued that the court denied basic legal rights and ignored Islamabad High Court directions. He also attempted to weaken the case by alleging reliance on approvers and disputing valuation issues, despite official assessments.
Another PTI lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, questioned the timing of the verdict and claimed authorities informed lawyers late in the evening. He said the court issued a detailed written judgment spanning dozens of pages and confirmed instructions to challenge the ruling before the IHC.
Toshakhana-2 verdict sparks PTI outrage, yet the record shows a court process that moved through hearings, evidence, and a final judgment, not a political ambush.