Global Rice News

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has been convicted of revealing official secrets, receiving his harshest sentence yet of 10 years. This comes as part of a series of legal cases against Khan, which many of his supporters believe are an attempt to sideline him from the upcoming parliamentary elections. Despite being imprisoned and not on the ballot, Khan remains a significant political force due to his grassroots following and anti-establishment rhetoric.

Khan’s arrest last year led to violent demonstrations, and since then, authorities have increased their crackdown on his supporters and party, making them reluctant to hold new rallies. The Feb. 8 elections are crucial for Pakistan as the country is facing an economic crisis that Khan’s successor, Shehbaz Sharif, has struggled to manage. Sharif had to secure a bailout from the International Monetary Fund, but it came at the cost of substantial increases in tariffs on gas and electricity, leading to higher prices for everyday goods and a decline in popularity for his party.

In the case known as the cipher case, Khan was convicted of exposing state secrets by waving a confidential document at a rally. The document, which has not been made public by the government, is believed to be diplomatic correspondence between the Pakistani ambassador to Washington and the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad. Khan argued that the document was evidence of threats against him and claimed that his removal from office was part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the U.S., military, and Pakistani government. Both American and Pakistani officials have denied these allegations.

The verdict was announced by a special court at the prison in Rawalpindi, where Khan is currently held. According to Zulfiqar Bukhari, the chief spokesman for Khan’s political party, even some members of Khan’s legal team were denied access to the court during the trial, and journalists were not allowed to cover the proceedings. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a senior official in Khan’s party, was also convicted in the case.

Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, criticized the trial, claiming that her brother was not given a fair hearing. She revealed that prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Khan and expressed her belief that the verdict was delivered hastily. She called on Khan’s supporters to show solidarity in the upcoming election by voting for PTI candidates. Qureshi’s family also denounced the verdict and vowed to challenge it in court.

Despite the discontent with the government, political analysts predict that turnout in the upcoming election may be low since Khan was the only charismatic leader capable of attracting the masses to his party. Critics argue that PTI is now a “leaderless party.” Pakistan’s human rights commission has raised concerns about the fairness of the election, citing the large number of rejected candidates from Khan’s party.

The PTI released a statement expressing its support for Khan and Qureshi, describing the trial as a “sham” and criticizing the judge for not allowing their lawyers to defend them. However, the party urged its supporters to remain peaceful and not resort to violence. Omar Ayub, a longtime supporter, called on supporters to channel their energies into ensuring a victory for Khan’s candidates in the election.

Pakistan has a history of sidelining former prime ministers who are seen as a challenge to the security establishment. In 2018, Khan’s rival, Nawaz Sharif, faced legal cases and prison sentences but has now been acquitted on all charges, clearing his path for a potential fourth term in office.

Source: [Source](https://news.yahoo.com)