Former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday awarded a 10-year jail term for leaking official secrets, his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Sharif (PTI) said. The sentence was awarded by a special court under the Official Secrets Act. Along with Imran Khan, Pakistan's ex-Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also convicted and sent to 10 years in jail in the cipher case.
The cipher case revolves around a diplomatic document, as per the charge sheet filed by the Federal Investigation Agency, alleging that Imran failed to return the document. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has consistently asserted that the document contained a perceived threat from the United States aiming to remove Imran from the position of Prime Minister, reported Pakitani news website Dawn.
The PTI called the trial a "sham" and provoked by "foreign powers".
The timing of the verdict is noteworthy, coming just over a week ahead of the February 8 general elections. The PTI is participating in the elections amidst increased state scrutiny and without an assigned electoral symbol.
This marks Imran Khan's second conviction, following a previous conviction in the Toshakhana case on August 5, where he was sentenced to three years in prison. Although the Islamabad High Court suspended his sentence, a subsequent division bench rejected Imran's plea to suspend the conviction.
The party alleged that the sentence was part of the "London Plan".
For Shah Mahmood Qureshi, this conviction constitutes his first legal setback.
Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain delivered the verdict in the case. At the beginning of the hearing, both Imran and Qureshi were presented with a questionnaire under Section 342 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
During the proceedings, after Imran Khan gave his statement, the court inquired about the whereabouts of the cipher. Imran responded, stating, "I have already mentioned in my statement that I am unaware. The cipher was in my office," reported Dawn.
Subsequently, the judge handed down a 10-year prison sentence to Khan and Qureshi. Following the announcement, the judge exited the courtroom. Qureshi voiced his protest, asserting that his statement had not been properly recorded.