ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (Reuters) – In a monumental turn of events, a Pakistani court has chosen to suspend the conviction of the esteemed former Prime Minister Imran Khan on corruption charges, igniting a fervent glimmer of hope for his supporters. This remarkable development, orchestrated by the unwavering dedication of his lawyer Naeem Panjutha, has breathed new life into the fight for justice. However, it is crucial to note that this decision does not immediately grant him his freedom, as another case still holds him in detention. Nevertheless, amidst these trying times, the spirit of resilience and unwavering support continues to radiate from every corner, fueling the belief in a brighter future for one of the nation’s most revered figures.*
The 70-year-old former cricket hero has been at the centre of political turmoil in the crisis-ridden nuclear-armed state since his ouster in a parliamentary vote of confidence in April 2022, and his relations with Pakistan’s powerful generals have deteriorated badly over the past year.
Khan was incarcerated on August 5th following a conviction for the unauthorized sale of state gifts during his term as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. Consequently, due to this conviction and in light of an upcoming national election, the Election Commission of Pakistan has also disallowed Khan from participating in any electoral contests for a duration of five years.
“The sentence has been suspended,” Panjutha said on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, adding, “God be praised.”
Khan’s legal team lodged the appeal against his conviction on the grounds that he was convicted without being given the right to defend himself.
The court also ordered Khan’s release on bail, another one of his lawyers, Shoaib Shaheen, told reporters outside the court. But he will not be freed as he has been detained in at least one other case on charges of leaking state secrets.
A special court in Islamabad has ordered the jail authorities to keep Khan in judicial custody and present him before the court on Wednesday, according to an undated order seen by Reuters.
A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official, who requested anonymity, said Khan is charged with making public the contents of a confidential cable sent by Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States and using it for political gain.
Khan’s top aide, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has already been arrested in the same case.
Khan alleges that the cable proves that his removal was at the behest of the United States, which he said pressed Pakistan’s military to topple his government because he had visited Russia shortly before its attack on Ukraine.
Both the United States and the Pakistani military have denied that.
Khan faces dozens of cases, including charges of abetment to murder and orchestrating violent protests.
It is unclear how the ban on his contesting elections will be affected with the suspension of his sentence. National elections are due later this year, but they are likely to be delayed several months.
The suspension marks another win for Khan and comes a day after the Balochistan High Court dismissed sedition charges against him, saying they had been improperly filed.
The Author
Discover more from News Network Plus
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
