In a significant development, a Pakistani court has granted former Prime Minister Imran Khan an appeal of his graft conviction and suspended his 14-year jail sentence. This decision comes just a week before the February 8 elections, providing relief to Khan’s embattled party, which had secured the most seats in the national polls.
The conviction stemmed from charges of unlawfully selling state gifts, for which Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced. However, despite the suspension of this particular sentence, Khan will remain incarcerated due to multiple other sentences imposed on him before the elections. These additional sentences also led to his disqualification from holding any public office for ten years.
The Islamabad High Court stated that Khan’s graft sentence will remain suspended until a final decision is made on the conviction, following arguments and evidence in a main petition after the Eid holidays. Barrister Ali Zafar, Khan’s lawyer, emphasized that there is no evidence supporting the conviction, which led to the court’s decision to suspend the sentence during the first hearing of the appeal.
The charges against Khan and his wife revolved around the illegal sale of gifts received during his premiership, valued at over 140 million rupees. These gifts included perfumes, diamond jewelry, dinner sets, and expensive watches, notably six Rolexes and a “Master Graff limited edition” valued at 85 million rupees.
Khan’s legal troubles have been a focal point in Pakistani politics, with his party alleging that the cases against him were fabricated to sideline him from the political arena, allegedly orchestrated by the country’s powerful army. The military, however, denies these allegations, stating that the legal proceedings are based on legitimate charges.
Pakistan, with its history of military involvement in politics, continues to grapple with the balance of power between civilian authorities and the military establishment. The outcome of Khan’s appeal and the broader implications for governance and democracy remain subjects of keen interest and scrutiny in the nation.
Sources By Agencies
