Pakistan: Imran Khan Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
The Facts
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his aide — former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi — were both sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday related to allegations of disclosing state secrets.
The ruling came a day after the High Court in Pakistan suspended the conviction and three-year prison sentence of Khan for another alleged crime — that being his alleged failure to declare proceeds from gifts while in office. Monday's judgment ordered Khan's release from prison, though that has been undone by the latest state secrets case.
The Spin
Narrative A
While corruption surged under Khan, Pakistan's place in related indexes has been steadily improving since Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took power. There is still work to do, but these developments demonstrate why Sharif is the right leader.
Narrative B
The circumstances under which this verdict was reached were highly unusual, raising legitimate questions about whether Khan received a fair trial and whether any of his other rights were violated. These developments threaten the independence of Pakistan's judiciary, bringing the country closer to totalitarianism.
