THE ADIALA VERDICT – IMRAN KHAN’S 17-YEAR SENTENCE
London, UK — December 20, 2025
Pakistan Politics News Today 2025 – The Fall of the PTI Founder
In a courtroom drama that has electrified Pakistan politics news today 2025, a special accountability court has delivered a crushing legal blow to the imprisoned former Prime Minister, Imran Khan.
it is a seismic event in Pakistan politics news today 2025 that will echo through the halls of power and across the streets of Islamabad.
The Verdict in Adiala Jail
On the morning of Saturday, December 20, 2025, Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand pronounced the verdict within the high-security confines of Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
The court found Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, guilty of criminal breach of trust and misconduct related to the state’s gift repository, known as the Toshakhana.
The sentencing was structured into two components:
10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code (criminal breach of trust) and an additional seven years under the Prevention of Corruption Act. While the court noted a degree of “leniency” due to Khan’s age (73) and Bushra Bibi’s gender, the 17-year total represents one of the most significant sentences handed to a former leader in Pakistan’s history.
The Bulgari Controversy: A Gift from the Desert
At the heart of the Toshakhana 2 case is an exquisite Bulgari jewelry set, gifted to the couple by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an official visit in May 2021.
Prosecutors alleged that the set was undervalued by appraisers—pressured by the Prime Minister’s office—to allow the couple to retain the jewelry for a mere PKR 5 million, a “throwaway price” compared to its actual market value.
The prosecution successfully argued that this undervaluation resulted in a loss of millions of rupees to the national treasury.
Political Tremors and “The Black Chapter”
The response from Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was immediate and fierce. Describing the day as a “black chapter in history,” party leaders alleged that the trial was conducted without allowing a proper defense.
“Criminal liability was imposed without proof of intent,” stated spokesperson Zulfiquar Bukhari, suggesting the judiciary is being used as a tool for “selective prosecution.”
In response to the verdict, the PTI has called for nationwide protests starting December 21.
For the global community and our followers at Castle Journal Global , this raises the specter of renewed civil unrest in a nation already grappling with economic instability.
The government, meanwhile, maintains that the rule of law has been upheld and that no individual is above the accountability process.
The Cumulative Legal Burden
This 17-year sentence is the latest in a mounting pile of legal challenges for the former cricket star.
Having been incarcerated since August 2023, Khan is already serving a 14-year sentence in a separate land graft case. While some earlier sentences were suspended on appeal, today’s ruling creates a legal mountain that makes a political comeback increasingly difficult.
The Ministry of Information has clarified that the new jail term will likely run concurrently with his existing sentences, though the legal specifics remain a point of debate for his defense team.
As they prepare to challenge the ruling in the Islamabad High Court, the world watches to see if the “Great Depth” of the Pakistani legal system will provide a reprieve or a finality to his career.
Headline Points
– Double Conviction:
Former PM Imran Khan and wife Bushra Bibi sentenced to 17 years in Toshakhana 2 case.
– Financial Penalties:
Court imposes a fine of PKR 16.4 million on each convict.
– The Bulgari Jewelry Set:
Case centers on an undervalued jewelry gift from the Saudi Crown Prince.
– Political Fallout:
PTI party labels the verdict a “black chapter” and calls for nationwide protests.
– Concurrent Terms:
The new sentence is to be served alongside existing terms in high-security Adiala Jail.
