Pakistan's former prime minister, Imran Khan, has been convicted of concealing the proceeds from the sale of state gifts during his time in power. This development means that he will not be eligible to contest the upcoming elections scheduled for November. Khan, who denies any wrongdoing and faces numerous other cases, plans to challenge the court's decision in a higher court.
The sentencing came after a sessions court in Islamabad sentenced Khan to three years in prison, leading to his immediate arrest by police. This ruling paves the way for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to hold the elections, as the government's term is set to end next week. Sharif aims to secure a mandate that will allow him to continue the bailout program with the International Monetary Fund, which he revived in June amidst rising inflation and interest rates.
Khan's spokesperson on legal affairs, Naeem Haider Panjhuta, criticized the court's judgment, stating that it lacked witnesses. The court found Khan guilty in the state gifts case and imposed a three-year prison sentence along with a fine of 100,000 rupees. The government of Pakistan stated that Khan would be automatically disqualified from the election process, and he would need to serve the sentence. Consequently, Khan will be unable to participate in any elections for the next five years and will be ineligible to hold a public office.
Imran Khan has maintained that the state gifts case, along with the other charges ranging from corruption to murder, are simply attempts to prevent him from participating in politics. This marks the second time that Khan has been arrested, though unlike the previous incident earlier this year, the response from his supporters has been limited.
In recent months, there has been a crackdown on Khan's party by the military and government, resulting in key members leaving and joining other groups. Khan has primarily remained confined to his home in Punjab province, only venturing out to seek bail for the numerous cases he is facing.
Political analyst Mazhar Abbas suggests that there may not be an immediate major protest due to the pressure and suppression faced by Khan's party. However, Khan still has the opportunity to challenge the verdict in both the Islamabad High Court and the Supreme Court.
It could take months for Khan to appeal the verdict in the lower court, effectively sidelining him from the election race. In a pre-recorded video released by his party after his arrest, Khan called on his supporters to peacefully protest his imprisonment and stressed the importance of voting for a government of their choice.
The case originated from a complaint by the Election Commission of Pakistan, which accused Khan of not officially disclosing funds obtained from the sale of gifts received from foreign leaders during his tenure as prime minister. Last year, the commission disqualified Khan as a lawmaker in relation to the same case and subsequently initiated criminal proceedings against him.
The commission's inquiry uncovered that Khan had purchased expensive gifts, such as Graff and Rolex watches, jewelry, and carpets, at discounted prices from the state treasury, with some of them even being sold in the local market.
The surprising verdict followed a decision by the high court that instructed the lower court to determine whether the state gifts case constituted a criminal offense. The lower court judge concluded that the case did indeed involve criminal charges and subsequently handed down a guilty verdict, emphasizing that Khan's dishonesty was evident beyond doubt.
Khan, who was not present for the proceedings, was immediately sentenced to jail. His party has declared his arrest illegal and vowed to fight the legal battle. The situation regarding Khan's whereabouts remains unclear, as local news stations reported that police were waiting outside his heavily guarded home in Lahore, while his party claimed he was being flown to Islamabad by helicopter.