ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is facing widespread media coverage and accusations of corruption after being arrested in Lahore on Saturday. The media reports, which have reached global audiences, allege that Khan has been found guilty of corrupt practices, including the illegal sale of state gifts during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.
Russian State-Run News Agency TASS reported that Khan has been sentenced to three years in prison and fined 100,000 rupees (nearly $2 million) for his involvement in fraud and forgery related to illegal transactions involving the sale of foreign leaders’ gifts. The investigation revealed that Khan and his wife embezzled gifts from Middle Eastern leaders worth 154 million rupees.
Other international news agencies, such as APA News Agency of Eastern Europe and Kazakhstan’s News Agency Informburo, highlighted allegations of money laundering using the Al-Qadir fund, with Khan reportedly found guilty of receiving billions of rupees in cash from a real estate firm to legalize funds transferred from the UK during his time in office.
Imran Khan’s Involvement in Corruption
Various media outlets from Europe, Russia, and the Middle East cited different aspects of the case, with some linking Khan to multiple corruption cases, including the infamous Al-Qadir Trust Scam, where he and his wife were accused of embezzling 50 billion Pakistani rupees from the budget when Al-Qadir University was established.
The coverage has raised significant concerns about Khan’s alleged dishonesty and misuse of official powers, with some reports questioning his integrity as a political leader. Despite his denials and claims of politically motivated accusations, the media scrutiny continues.
Khan’s previous arrest in May of this year sparked large-scale demonstrations in Pakistan, leading to political turmoil and clashes between his supporters and authorities. The recent developments have once again thrust him into the spotlight, impacting the political landscape and future electoral prospects.
As the allegations and media coverage persist, Khan’s supporters are expected to protest against the verdict, while the opposition accuses him of manipulating facts and using artificial intelligence to shape his political narrative. Khan’s legal team plans to file a petition against the court’s decision, aiming to challenge the allegations of corruption and seek redress.
