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05-08-2023
By SJA Jafri
ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been given a three-year jail sentence over corruption allegations.
Khan was found guilty of not declaring money earned from selling gifts he received in office. He denies the charges and says he will appeal.
After the verdict, Khan was taken into custody from his home in Lahore.
In a pre-recorded statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, he told his supporters: “I have only one appeal, don’t sit at home silently.”
The former cricketer-turned-politician, 70, was elected in 2018, but was ousted in a no-confidence vote last year after falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military.
Khan is facing more than 100 cases brought against him since his removal – charges he says are politically motivated.
Saturday’s verdict centred on charges that he incorrectly declared details of presents from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale.
The gifts reported to be worth more than 140m Pakistani rupees ($635,000; £500,000) included Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cuff links.
“His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt,” Judge Humayun Dilawar wrote in his ruling.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Intazar Hussain Panjutha told media, the trial had been conducted by “a kangaroo-type court” in which “the accused was never given the opportunity to defend himself”.
“As a consequence of today’s conviction, he has been barred to take part in the politics for five years,” Panjutha said but “if the sentence and the conviction is suspended as we are hoping by the superior courts, he will then be able to come back to politics.”
Khan will be sent to Adyala jail, a central prison in the city of Rawalpindi, South of Islamabad.
For months he had avoided arrest, with his supporters’ at times fighting pitched battles with police to keep him out of custody.
In May, Khan was arrested for not appearing at court as requested. He was then released, with the arrest declared illegal.
Since then, his party has been under intense pressure from the authorities.
Many senior officials have left and thousands of supporters have been arrested, accused of being involved in the protests that followed Khan’s arrest.
When questioned by media as to whether he had created an atmosphere of hostility to the military resulting in violence, Khan said he and his party had never advocated the use of violence and had a record of peaceful protest.
Khan said the army in Pakistan was “petrified” of elections which his party would win “hands-down” and, for that reason, “they’re dismantling a democracy”.
Pakistan’s army plays a prominent role in politics, sometimes seizing power in military coups, and, on other occasions, pulling levers behind the scenes.
Many analysts believe Khan’s election win in 2018 happened with the help of the military.
In opposition, he has been one of its most vocal critics, and analysts say the army’s popularity has fallen.
Since being ousted, Khan has been campaigning for early elections.
Conviction would disqualify Khan from standing for office, possibly for life.
Pakistan’s parliament will be dissolved on August 9, leaving a caretaker government to take over in the run up to the elections.
No election date has been announced, although constitutionally they should take place by early November.
