What in the World - Who is Imran Khan and why is he in prison?

Download Who is Imran Khan and why is he in prison?

Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been jailed for 14 years after being convicted of illegally profiting from state gifts. It’s the second sentence handed to Pakistan's former prime minister in two days. Khan, who was ousted as PM by his opponents in 2022, was already serving a three-year jail term for corruption.

Imran Khan been a dominant figure in Pakistan for decades. He first rose to international fame on the cricket pitch, before shedding his playboy past and embarking on a decade-long marriage with billionaire heiress Jemima Goldsmith in a story captured in the pages of Hello! magazine. He founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in 1996.

So what changed, and what does this sentencing say about the state of democracy in Pakistan?

The BBC’s Pakistan correspondent Caroline Davies explains. Plus, we hear reaction from some of his supporters.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
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Presenter: William Lee Adams
Producer: Mora Morrison
Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Published on Wednesday, 31st January 2024.

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