Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 14 years in prison for allegedly selling state gifts, the latest of three convictions against the former PM.
The couple were also barred from holding public office for 10 years, in a hearing at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Khan is being held.
It comes a day after Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for allegedly leaking state secrets.
His legal team dismissed that case as a “sham” and vowed to appeal against both sentences.
Lawyer Shoaib Shaheen dismissed the case as "unlawful, injust and illegal," and said the judge barred cross-examination, claiming Khan was unable to choose his own legal representation in the case.
"No legal requirements were fulfilled and permission to present witnesses and the statements were not recorded properly,” he told The National.
The latest blow to the PTI later comes about a week before Pakistan's parliamentary elections, scheduled for February 8.
Supporters of the party, which has come under increasing government crackdowns over popular support for Khan, have vowed to support its candidates at the polls in revenge for Wednesday's verdict.
"No matter what happens, Khan will secure victory in the next election and we will take revenge for such verdicts by giving vote to his party,” PTI supporter Shehzad Afridi Nawaz Sharif told The National.
His legal team said Judge Mohammed Bashr seemed to be in a "hurry" to deliver a verdict.
"Whatever is happening is in a hurry. Legal essentials should be fulfilled, and judgments should not be hastily passed," Haroon Rashid, political analyst and managing editor of The Independent's Urdu language service told The National.
Khan who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022, was handed a three-year prison sentence last August by another court for selling gifts worth more than 140 million rupees ($501,000) during his four years in office.
That sentence was later suspended, but the suspension was overruled.
Khan briefly attended Wednesday's court session, while Ms Bibi was not present.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also accused of selling state gifts in what has been called the Toshakhana case.
“If the court punishes Imran Khan in Toshakhana cases, justice should also be served for Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and Asif Ali Zardari, who have sold state gifts," said PTI information secretary Irfan Saleem, referring to accusations against Mr Sharif, his daughter, and his colleague in the Pakistani People's Party.
Khan claims the charges against him are politically motivated and fears for his life.
Khan was shot at an election rally in November 2022 in what he described as an “assassination attempt” orchestrated by the government.
“Unfortunately, when I was in power for three and a half years, I just could not bring the powerful under the law. And they were the ones who then schemed with the army chief and conspired to remove my government,” he told The National in July.
His arrest and court cases have triggered violent protests across Pakistan.
One person was killed in May as demonstrations erupted following his arrest in Lahore by an anti-corruption agency.
His party later called on supporters to “shut down Pakistan”.
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
