Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex-Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were sentenced to 10 years in jail by a special court on Tuesday in the ‘cipher’ case.
The verdict comes just over a week ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 8th.
Khan and Qureshi were convicted under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly failing to return a confidential diplomatic cipher sent by the Pakistan embassy in Washington.
According to the First Information Report filed by the Federal Investigation Agency, the document contained alleged threats from the US to remove Khan from power in 2022. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has termed the case as a conspiracy by foreign powers.
This marks the second conviction for Khan this year. He was previously given a 3-year jail term by an anti-terrorism court in October 2022 in the Toshakhana case for illegally selling state gifts. Meanwhile, this is the first conviction for Qureshi.
سائفر سے زیادہ مضحکہ خیز کیس کوئی ہو نہیں سکتا۔اس سے بڑا مذاق کیا ہو گا کہ بیرونی سازش کو بے نقاب کرنے پر پاکستان نے اپنے وزیراعظم اور وزیر خارجہ کو قید کر رکھا ہے!!#نہ_مایوس_ہوں_نہ_مشتعل #ووٹ_کرے_گا_میرا_فیصلہ pic.twitter.com/tfQ2CZW5MU
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 30, 2024
Soon after Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain pronounced the 10-year sentence, Qureshi protested that his statement had not been properly recorded. However, the judge left the courtroom shortly after.
If anyone wants to understand how sham this trial was, this tweet here is enough. Absolutely disgusting and shameful mockery of law.#نہ_مایوس_ہوں_نہ_مشتعل #ووٹ_کرے_گا_میرا_فیصلہ https://t.co/0dDVkWA2eW
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 30, 2024
The PTI slammed the ‘sham trial’ claiming the verdict was part of the alleged ‘London Plan’ to sideline Khan from contesting the upcoming polls. The party has alleged unfair targeting by state agencies in the lead-up to the elections.
تحریک انصاف کے ساتھ جتنی بھی ظلم و زیادتیاں ہو رہی ہیں وہ لندن پلان کے تحت ہو رہی ہیں #ووٹ_کرے_گا_میرا_فیصلہ #نہ_مایوس_ہوں_نہ_مشتعل
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 30, 2024
pic.twitter.com/UOS4PHxxp5
Khan currently faces several cases slammed against him since being ousted via a no-confidence vote in April 2022. While legal experts expect his sentence may be suspended on appeal, the verdict marks a major setback for Khan and his party days before the crucial polls.
