On Friday, a Pakistani court convicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in a landmark corruption case related to their welfare foundation, the Al-Qadir Trust. Khan received a sentence of 14 years in prison, while his wife was handed a 7-year sentence. This verdict marks another chapter in Khan's ongoing legal and political battles since his ousting from office in 2022.

The conviction was handed down by an anti-graft court convened in the jail near the capital Islamabad, where Khan has been detained since August 2023. He faces around 200 criminal cases in total, but his supporters argue that the charges are politically motivated, designed to prevent his return to power.

Khan has consistently denied the charges, asserting that they are part of a broader scheme to silence him and eliminate his influence in Pakistani politics. In a defiant statement following his conviction, Khan vowed, "I will neither make any deal nor seek any relief."

Bushra Bibi, a faith healer, was arrested after the court ruling. Her sentence follows accusations related to the management of the Al-Qadir Trust, a charity the couple founded. While Khan has been facing mounting legal challenges, some critics believe the sentence is aimed at coercing him into a deal with the Pakistani military establishment to step back from the political scene.

Since his removal from office, Khan has launched an unprecedented campaign criticizing the powerful military generals of Pakistan. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), won the largest share of seats in the recent election, yet a coalition of parties more aligned with the military's interests has kept him out of power.

International organizations, including a UN panel, have questioned the legal basis of Khan's detention, citing it as an attempt to disqualify him from future elections. Despite these efforts, Khan has remained a prominent figure in Pakistani politics, with his party still holding significant influence.

This conviction is seen as part of a larger trend of legal actions taken against political figures critical of the establishment in Pakistan. While Khan's conviction has drawn significant domestic and international attention, its true impact on his political career remains uncertain.