Pakistan: Court Acquits Imran Khan in State Secrets Leak
Pakistan: Court Acquits Imran Khan in State Secrets Leak
The Facts
In a case concerning the disclosure of confidential government information, a court in Islamabad overturned on Monday the 10-year prison sentencing of ex-PM Imran Khan and former Foreign Ministery Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
On Monday, an Islamabad court reversed the 10-year jail sentence of Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister, and his ally, ex-Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for disclosing classified government information.
The Spin
Sentences have been overturned, and the only thing keeping the 71-year-old former cricket star turned politician and prime minister of Pakistan out of jail is a seven-year prison sentence for breaching Pakistan's marital laws. Clearly, the efforts to prevent Khan from returning to power are politically driven. They've victimized his party and stolen the February national election. The authorities have no other choice but to immediately release Khan and his ally Qureshi.
Despite having cleared himself of several criminal convictions, there seems to be no end in sight to the legal troubles facing Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The government has recently approved the registration of more cases against Khan and his party for inciting hate against state institutions, especially the Pakistan Army. The government is preparing to file more than 150 lawsuits against Khan.
