Pakistan court suspends conviction and sentence of former prime minister Khan

A trial court had found Khan guilty on Aug. 5 of failing to disclose gifts received from foreign governments

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – A Pakistani court on Tuesday suspended the three-year prison sentence and conviction of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in the state gift depository affair. The two-judge panel of the Islamabad High Court ordered Khan’s release on bail.

However, a special court hearing cases under the Official Secrets Act has directed the jail authorities to keep Khan in custody and produce him tomorrow in the court.  This case pertains to a diplomatic document which reportedly went missing from Khan’s possession. 

A trial court had found Khan guilty on Aug. 5 of failing to disclose gifts received from foreign governments during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.

Islamabad High Court decision follows the Supreme Court’s finding that the trial court’s verdict was procedurally flawed.

Imran Khan, a former cricketer turned politician, has faced more than 100 cases since losing a trust vote in April 2022.

He is imprisoned in the town of Attock, about 88 km from Islamabad.

As a result of his detention, Khan was barred from participating in elections for five years by the country’s election commission.

Khan received another reprieve when a case of sedition against him in Balochistan province was dropped.

Despite these court decisions, Khan will likely continue to face legal challenges. He was linked to cases of violence after his brief arrest earlier this year.

Khan has repeatedly denied these allegations, claiming they were aimed at preventing him from participating in the general election.

The Supreme Court’s decision to suspend Khan’s sentence is expected to have an impact on his exclusion from future elections.

There were also reports of Imran Khan’s prison conditions and improvements to his facilities.

The Toshakhana case, involving Khan’s alleged concealment of gifts, has led to his conviction, disqualification, and subsequent litigation.

Imran Khan’s legal team has filed a new petition with the Supreme Court seeking protection from further arrest in cases filed after his conviction on August 5.