Islamabad: Pakistan’s ex-prime minister, Imran Khan, has been sentenced to a further ten years in prison by a Pakistani court. The sentence is linked to a case involving the public release of official documents. Khan, as president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), received this verdict shortly before the general elections set for the 8th of next month. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the former Foreign Minister, has likewise been given a ten-year sentence.
The case emerged from the disclosure of details in a diplomatic document to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, revealed at a party rally in March 2022. The charge sheet from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) thoroughly outlines the speeches made by both Khan and Qureshi. Arrested last August, 71-year-old Khan and 67-year-old Qureshi faced trial while detained.
Renowned as an ex-cricketer, Imran Khan is now imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail following his conviction in the Tosha Khana scandal. He also has a five-year ban on standing in general elections. While the Islamabad High Court has suspended this ruling, other ongoing cases have prevented his release.
In a concurrent case, the court has accused both Khan and Qureshi of violating Islamic law in Khan’s marriage to his third wife, Bushra Bibi. The charge sheet was read by Senior Civil Judge Khudaratullah at Adiala Jail, where Khan is currently held. Both have denied the charges.
This case was filed last month by Bushra’s former husband, Khawar Maneka, alleging a breach of the law that mandates a waiting period before remarrying post-divorce. Bushra Bibi did not attend the recent charge sheet reading. Their application to the High Court to have the case dismissed is pending judgment.
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