Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to three years in jail on corruption charges. He was found guilty of not declaring money earned from the sale of gifts he received during his time in office. However, Mr. Khan denies the charges and has stated that he will appeal the verdict.
Following the court ruling, Mr. Khan was taken into custody from his residence in Lahore. In a pre-recorded statement posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), he urged his supporters not to remain silent but to actively voice their support.
Imran Khan, a former cricketer-turned-politician, was elected as Prime Minister in 2018. However, he was removed from office last year after a no-confidence vote, resulting from a fallout with Pakistan’s powerful military. Since his removal, he has faced over 100 cases brought against him, which he claims are politically motivated.
The recent verdict focused on charges related to his inaccurate declaration of gifts from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale. The reported value of the gifts was more than 140 million Pakistani rupees, which included Rolex watches, a ring, and a pair of cuff links.
Mr. Khan’s barrister, Gohar Khan, expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, stating that they were not given a fair chance to defend themselves during the trial.
His party, Tehreek-e-Insaf, confirmed that Mr. Khan was flown to Islamabad after being arrested in Lahore to begin serving his sentence. He had previously managed to avoid arrest with the support of his followers, who engaged in clashes with the police on occasions.
Imran Khan has been critical of Pakistan’s military, accusing them of undermining democracy out of fear of his party’s electoral success. His election win in 2018 was perceived to have involved the support of the military, though his opposition has made him a vocal critic of the institution.
With a conviction, Mr. Khan would be disqualified from standing for office, potentially for life. Pakistan’s parliament is set to be dissolved on August 9, leading to a caretaker government before the elections take place, expected by early November.
Reporter
