Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to a 10-year jail term for violating the Official Secrets Act by making a diplomatic cable public during his tenure.
Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has been sentenced to a 10-year jail term for allegedly leaking state secrets. This adds to his existing three-year sentence for corruption. Dismissing the charges as politically motivated, Khan faces this conviction just a week before the general elections, from which he is barred.
Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, also vice-chairman of Khan’s party, received a parallel 10-year prison sentence. Known as the “cipher case,” it involves the alleged leaking of secret diplomatic correspondence during Khan’s prime ministership. The incident occurred during a rally in March 2022, just before Khan’s ousting in a vote of no confidence.
The PTI expressed solidarity with Khan and Qureshi on X, stating, “Pakistan stands with Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who defended Pakistan and stood for Haqeeqi Azadi. No such sham trial can change what happened in March-April 2022. InshAllah, Kaptaan and Vice Kaptaan will be back soon, and this sentence will be in a dustbin in the appeal stage.”
Both Khan and Qureshi were indicted in October 2023, pleading not guilty. The Islamabad High Court cited a government notification for a jail trial, annulling the proceedings.
Following the annulment and subsequent revival of the case, Imran Khan expressed skepticism, likening the trial to a pre-determined fixed match put in place by the planners of the London Plan.
“This is not a trial but a fixed match whose outcome was predetermined,” Imran tweeted on his ‘X’ handle.
The former cricketer, held in Adiala jail since August, faced closed-door proceedings in a special court. In August 2023, he received a three-year sentence in the Toshakhana graft case, later suspended, yet he remained behind bars due to other cases.
Barred from the upcoming February 2024 elections, Khan also contends with allegations of authorities impeding PTI’s campaign. The general election is scheduled for 8 February.
Last Updated on January 30, 2024
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