2024-01-30 14:56:43
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have been sentenced to ten years in jail for leaking classified documents. The trial was held in prison, two weeks before the country’s elections. Closing arguments were delivered on Tuesday, January 30, and the verdict was announced a few hours later.
First modification: 01/30/2024 – 15:56
1 min
With our correspondent in Islamabad, Sonia Ghezali
The courts have convicted Imran Khan, former Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for making public a secret document known as CIPHER – Imran Khan had used this diplomatic cable from Pakistan’s ambassador to the US to publicly accuse the US government for having worked to oust him from power for not following the US line on the Ukrainian issue, among others.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party called the court process a “farce” and announced it would challenge the verdict in the Islamabad High Court.
Imran Khan has been in prison since August 8, 2023, five months ago, when he was first sentenced to three years in prison in a corruption case. A few weeks later, the Superior Court suspended the sentence, but maintained his detention because he is accused in several other cases.
Tuesday’s verdict comes just nine days before Pakistan’s general election. These are elections in which Imran Khan’s party, the PTI, cannot participate under its flag.
The decision was made by the Independent Electoral Commission, which ruled that the movement had missed the deadline to hold internal elections in the party. PTI candidates will participate in the February 8 legislative elections without tickets. Imran Khan denounces unfair elections.
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