Imran Khan smiles through sentence, courtroom waits for the punchline

WEBDESK: In a moment that left observers blinking in disbelief, former prime minister Imran Khan reportedly responded to the announcement of a 17-year prison sentence with what witnesses described as a calm conversation, followed by a smile that suggested he had just heard an interesting statistic rather than a life-altering verdict.

According to a jail official who spoke on condition of anonymity, Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were present in the makeshift courtroom inside the jail as the judge read out the decision. The official said the judge asked Khan three times to step up to the rostrum. Each time, Khan politely declined, choosing instead to remain seated, apparently unimpressed by the formality of it all.

As the ruling was being delivered, Khan was said to be engaged in quiet conversation with Bushra Bibi, prompting onlookers to wonder whether they were discussing legal strategy, dinner plans, or the weather. When the judge finished reading the verdict and left the courtroom, Khan reportedly turned to those nearby and asked a simple question, “So, what was the decision?”

When told that he had been sentenced to 17 years in prison, the former prime minister allegedly smiled.

Journalists present inside the jail said Khan offered no comments, no slogans, and no dramatic statements for the cameras. The silence, some noted, was louder than any speech. Inside the courtroom, only the prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi and one of Khan’s lawyers, Arshad Tabrez, were present, while journalists and Khan’s sisters were denied entry.

Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar later told reporters that his client was in good health and showed no concern during their meeting. “He’s fine,” Safdar said, a statement that did little to clarify whether this was legal reassurance or emotional understatement.

In a country accustomed to fiery speeches and dramatic court scenes, Imran Khan’s reaction appeared almost satirical, a reminder that in Pakistan’s politics, even a 17-year sentence can sometimes feel like just another plot twist.