Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Sentenced to 10 Years in Jail Ahead of Elections
Islamabad, 31st January 2024: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years in jail in connection with a controversial case related to a leaked document. The sentencing, revealed by state media and the party spokesperson, occurred after a trial held within the prison where Khan has been detained since his arrest in August. The verdict comes at a critical juncture as the country is gearing up for polls on February 8.
In a surprising turn of events, Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice-president Shah Mahmood Qureshi have both been handed 10-year sentences in the “cypher” case. This case revolves around their handling of a leaked communication from Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, suggesting Washington’s involvement in a plot to remove Khan from office in 2022.
The timing of the sentencing is noteworthy, given the upcoming elections scheduled in less than two weeks. The political atmosphere leading up to the polls has been marked by allegations of pre-vote rigging and reported suppression of Khan’s party.
Imran Khan, renowned for his cricketing career before entering politics, served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to April 2022. He is also the founder and former chairman of the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, a position he held from 1996 to 2023.
The sentencing of a former Prime Minister has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, raising questions about the impact on the electoral process and the future of PTI.
