Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s three-year sentence for corruption has been temporarily suspended, but his release from jail remains uncertain. The Islamabad High Court granted him bail until his appeal against the conviction is heard. However, another court has ordered him to remain in custody until Wednesday in a separate case. Khan’s lawyers claim that over 100 charges, including leaking state secrets and organizing violent protests, have been brought against him since his removal from power last year. The former prime minister alleges that all charges are politically motivated.
Khan’s legal team is seeking a Supreme Court order to prevent his detention in any other case, but a date for the petition hearing has not yet been set. They remain hopeful that he will be released, and as of now, there is no indication of his arrest in any other case. Khan, a former international cricket star, was sentenced to three years in jail on August 5 for failing to declare money earned from selling gifts received during his tenure from 2018 to 2022. The gifts, valued at over 140 million Pakistani rupees, included Rolex watches, a ring, and cufflinks. This conviction also resulted in a five-year ban on contesting elections.
The current case, known as the “cipher case,” pertains to the alleged leaking of a diplomatic cable. In the ongoing appeal that led to the suspension of his sentence, Khan’s lawyers argue that he was convicted without adequate opportunity to defend himself. The latest development comes a day after another high court dismissed sedition charges against him, deeming them improperly filed. Authorities deny any political motivation behind Khan’s arrest or disqualification from public office, while also repeatedly accusing the judges who granted him relief of being politically biased.
Currently held in Attock jail, a small facility in Punjab province, about 85km from Islamabad, Khan’s party members have previously been incarcerated there, according to local media reports. Prior to his sentencing, Khan had managed to evade arrest for months, with his supporters occasionally engaging in clashes with the police to prevent his custody. On May 9, he was briefly arrested for non-compliance with a court appearance request, but his release was later deemed illegal. This arrest triggered protests across Pakistan, some of which turned violent and targeted military installations, as demonstrators blamed the military for Khan’s downfall. Numerous supporters were arrested during these protests.
Since then, Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have faced a crackdown, with many senior leaders being arrested before subsequently announcing their departure from the party. As a result, several vocal supporters of Khan have become apprehensive about expressing their opinions and have even deleted their previous comments. The situation surrounding Imran Khan’s legal battles and potential release from jail remains fluid, with further developments expected in the coming days.
