Imran Khan calls for nationwide protest after 17-year jail sentence in Toshakhana case

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for a nationwide protest after he and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years in jail in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case. The verdict was delivered on Saturday, and Khan responded a day later by urging his supporters to come out on the streets and stand against what he described as an unjust decision.

In a message shared through his X (formerly Twitter) account, Khan said the entire nation must rise to defend its rights. The post was reportedly based on a conversation between Khan and his lawyers. However, it remains unclear who uploaded the message, as Khan does not have access to the internet inside jail.

Khan has been in prison since August 2023 and has faced multiple legal cases over the past few years. He has repeatedly claimed that these cases are politically motivated and aimed at keeping him out of Pakistan’s political system. The latest verdict has once again intensified political tensions in the country.

The former prime minister said he has already asked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to prepare for a mass protest movement. He stressed that peaceful resistance is necessary to restore democracy and constitutional rule in Pakistan.

Call for protests and allegations against authorities

In his message, Imran Khan said that his supporters should not remain silent and must protest against what he called an unfair and rushed verdict. “The entire nation will have to rise for its rights,” he said. He also described his political struggle as a form of worship and said he was ready to sacrifice his life for what he called the true freedom of Pakistan.

Khan strongly criticised the Pakistan Army, accusing it of mentally torturing him and his wife while they are in jail. He claimed that although other prisoners are allowed to watch television, he and Bushra Bibi are not given access to TV or basic facilities. According to him, this treatment is meant to break their morale.

The former prime minister also questioned the legal process followed in the Toshakhana 2 case. He said the decision was given in a hurry and without proper evidence. Khan alleged that the judge did not fulfil basic legal requirements before announcing the verdict.

“Like the baseless decisions and sentences of the last three years, this verdict is nothing new for me,” Khan said. He added that the judgment was delivered without a fair trial and without examining facts carefully.

Khan further appealed to lawyers across the country to step forward and play a leading role in protecting the justice system. He said the supremacy of law and restoration of the Constitution are impossible without an independent and strong judiciary. According to him, no country can achieve economic progress or moral development if its justice system is weak.

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Toshakhana case and legal background

The Toshakhana 2 case is related to the alleged misuse and sale of state gifts received by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in 2021. These gifts were reportedly given by the Saudi Arabian government during Khan’s tenure as prime minister.

The Toshakhana is a department under Pakistan’s Cabinet Division. It is responsible for storing gifts presented to government officials, rulers, and political leaders by foreign heads of state and dignitaries. Under the rules, leaders are required to declare such gifts and follow specific procedures if they wish to keep them.

According to the prosecution, Imran Khan and his wife were involved in fraudulent practices related to these gifts. The court found them guilty and sentenced both to 17 years in prison. The verdict came as a major setback for Khan, who is already facing multiple cases.

In 2024, Bushra Bibi was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court in the same case. Later, Imran Khan was also granted bail. However, in December 2025, both were formally indicted again, leading to the final verdict delivered this month.

Khan has said that the verdict will be challenged in the high court. He expressed confidence that the higher judiciary would correct what he described as a grave injustice. His legal team is expected to file an appeal soon.

The sentencing has triggered strong reactions from Khan’s party supporters, who believe the case is part of a wider campaign to silence him politically. On the other hand, government authorities maintain that the law has taken its course and that the verdict is based on evidence.

As political tensions rise, all eyes are now on how Khan’s supporters respond to his call for nationwide protests. The situation also raises questions about political stability in Pakistan, as legal battles and street movements continue to dominate the country’s political landscape.

For now, Imran Khan remains behind bars, determined to fight his legal battles through the courts and public resistance, while Pakistan prepares for another phase of political uncertainty.