Pakistan Former Prime Minister Jailed For Leaking State Secrets
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years in jail in a case in which he was accused of leaking state secrets, the week before general elections in which is he barred from standing.
Mr. Khan, who was ousted by his opponents as Prime Minister in 2022, is already serving a three-year jail term after being convicted of corruption.
The President’s Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) party said it would challenge the court ruling and called it a sham case.
Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also sentenced to 10 years in prison by the special court.
The case revolves around the alleged leaking of secret diplomatic correspondence sent by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington to Islamabad when Mr. Khan was Prime Minister.
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He said it detailed that all would be forgiven if Imran Khan is removed from power. He didn’t name the country – but was subsequently highly critical of the United States.
The prosecution said that the former PM’s actions amounted to leaking a classified document and damaging diplomatic relations. The latter charge can lead to life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Imran Khan has been held in Adiala jail for most of the time since his arrest in August. International media were not allowed to attend proceedings in the special court which have been going on over the last few months.
Local media reported that the judge had recently been told to expedite the trial. A PTI spokesman said it would challenge the court ruling and called it a mockery.
We don’t accept this illegal decision, Naeem Panjutha, a lawyer for the former PM who is fighting scores of other legal cases, posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Another Khan aide told Reuters news agency his legal team had no opportunity to represent him or cross-examine witnesses.
The delayed 8 February election comes amid allegations the PTI is being denied a fair chance to campaign.
The authorities deny carrying out a crackdown on the PTI, but many of its leaders are now behind bars or have defected, its candidates are having to stand as independents and many are on the run.
Police also rounded up thousands of its supporters after protests – at times violent – last May when Imran Khan was first taken into custody.
The party has also been stripped of its cricket bat symbol, essential in a country with low literacy rates to allow voters to choose where to mark their ballots.
