Pakistanski sud je presudio da je Khan odavao državne tajne, ali Khan tvrdi da je to samo dio zavjere vojske i američke vlade protiv njega. Ovo je druga presuda protiv Khana u posljednjih nekoliko mjeseci, a dolazi samo deset dana prije općih izbora 8. februara.
Imran Khan and his deputy Shah Mahmood Qureshi were sentenced approximately seven days before the general elections on February 8th. The Pakistani court sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his close associate, former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, to ten years in prison in a case of divulging state secrets, the second sentence against Khan in the last few months, just ten days before the election.
The case relates to suspicion that Khan shared the contents of a classified diplomatic message sent by the ambassador in Washington to the government in Islamabad. Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, a spokesman for Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), told Al Jazeera that PTI will challenge the court’s decision. The trial was held „illegally,“ he said. „Our lawyers were not allowed to represent Imran Khan. They were also not allowed to cross-examine the witnesses. What happened in court was just a farce,“ Bukhari said.
‘Pakistani and American conspiracy’
This is the second verdict against the former prime minister in the last few months. He was previously sentenced to three years in a corruption case. Khan was ousted in a vote of no confidence in parliament in 2022, and due to the convictions, he is not able to participate in the elections.
Khan says that the case of the diplomatic dispatch is evidence of a conspiracy by the Pakistani military and the US government to overthrow his government in 2022 after he visited Moscow shortly before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Washington and the Pakistani military reject the allegations.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Khan claimed that the case against him is part of a larger conspiracy. „This is a conspiracy by the Pakistani military and the American government, which I had exposed, and that is why they are now taking revenge on me. This is their way of punishing me for speaking out against them.“, said Khan.
Khan also lashed out at his political opponents, accusing them of colluding with foreign powers in an attempt to disqualify him from running in the elections. However, he vowed to continue fighting against the „undemocratic and illegal“ tactics used against him. „I will not allow them to silence me or the voices of the people,“ Khan said.
The ruling party, PTI, has also announced that they will not accept the court’s decision and will take all legal measures to challenge it. They have called the trial a farce and claimed that the proceedings were conducted in a biased and unfair manner.
Despite the conviction, Khan’s popularity remains high among his supporters, who see him as a leader who stands up to foreign powers and fights for the rights of the Pakistani people. His defiance in the face of legal and political challenges has only served to strengthen his image as a bold and fearless leader.
The forthcoming general elections on February 8th will be an important test for Khan and his party. Despite the legal and political obstacles, Khan remains determined to continue the fight for his political survival and to challenge the forces he claims are working against him. His conviction has only served to galvanize his supporters, who see him as a symbol of resistance against the powers that seek to silence him.
