A Pakistani court, on January 30, pronounced a significant judgment sentencing former Prime Minister Imran Khan to 10 years in prison.
The verdict also included one of Khan’s party deputies, Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Both were found guilty of revealing state secrets, dealing a severe blow to the ex-cricket star turned politician, who has been navigating a challenging period both politically and judicially.
The court, located in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, delivered the verdict, announcing the 10-year prison sentence for both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Zulfiqar Bukhari, the spokesman for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, confirmed the judgment, emphasizing that the defendants have the right to appeal the ruling in the case, widely recognized as the Cipher case.
This ruling comes as the latest setback for Imran Khan, who faced a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April 2022, leading to his ouster as the Prime Minister.
Currently serving a three-year prison term in a graft case, Khan’s legal woes have been escalating, with the Cipher case being one of over 150 cases pending against him.
The Cipher case revolves around the allegation that Imran Khan disclosed official secrets by waving a confidential document, known as Cipher, during a public rally after his removal from office.
The document is believed to be a classified cable containing diplomatic correspondence between the Pakistani ambassador to Washington and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
During the rally, Khan asserted that the document was proof of threats against him and claimed that his removal was part of a U.S. conspiracy executed by the military and the Pakistani government. However, both Washington and Pakistani officials have denied these claims.
The sentencing comes at a critical juncture as Pakistan gears up for parliamentary elections scheduled for February 8.
Imran Khan, due to his previous criminal conviction, is barred from participating in the elections. Despite this, Khan remains a formidable force in Pakistani politics, with a substantial grassroots following and a reputation for anti-establishment rhetoric.
The legal saga surrounding Imran Khan has led to violent demonstrations since his arrest in May 2023, prompting authorities to crack down on his supporters and his political party.
The Independent Human Rights Commission in Pakistan has expressed concerns about the fairness of the upcoming elections, citing instances of “pre-poll rigging” and the rejection of candidacies, including that of Imran Khan and senior members of his party.
Imran Khan has consistently maintained his innocence, portraying the legal cases against him as politically motivated attempts to sideline him ahead of crucial elections.
