Pakistani court sentences opposition leader Imran Khan to 10 years in prison
In a shocking turn of events, former Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan has been sentenced to ten years in prison for leaking state secrets. Khan, who has been in prison since May of last year, claims that the multitude of court cases against him is a conspiracy to prevent his return to power. This latest verdict, which was confirmed by his party, the Pakistan Justice Movement (PTI), marks the second sentence the former cricketer has faced, with the previous one being for corruption. The timing of this ruling, just days before the general elections on February 8, has barred Khan from participating as per the electoral authority’s decision. In a further blow, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, vice president of the PTI, has also been sentenced to ten years in prison. The party plans to appeal the decision, alleging that it was carried out illegally without proper representation for Khan and denial of questioning witnesses.
The charges against Khan stem from a speech he gave in 2022, right after his ouster by a parliamentary vote of confidence, where he waved an alleged confidential document suggesting a directive from Washington to expel him from power. However, the authenticity of the document has been contested by both the Pakistani and US governments, and its contents have never been disclosed. Nevertheless, Khan’s speech was enough for the Pakistani justice system to prosecute him for violating official secrets laws. The former cricket champion sees this trial as further evidence of a conspiracy involving authorities in Islamabad and Washington to remove him from power.
The judicial process surrounding Khan’s case has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who argue that the accused has been denied contact with family members and party members. The Islamabad High Court itself has previously declared one of the hearings as “illegal” due to the accused’s lack of rights. Khan’s imprisonment has sparked widespread protests in several cities, resulting in ten deaths and over 2,000 arrests during police interventions. Despite these circumstances, Khan maintains his popularity as Pakistan’s most favored politician, according to a recent Gallup opinion poll, with a 60% approval rating.
Not only has the electoral authority barred the former prime minister from participating in the upcoming elections, but it has also prevented other party leaders from entering the race. The timing of the ruling, so close to the elections, has only served to motivate PTI’s followers, who are expected to take to the streets in large numbers. Rights groups have raised concerns about censorship of the PTI’s campaign in the media and on the streets. Some senior members of the party have been forced to run as independent candidates due to what they describe as a manipulated electoral process.