Picture Credit: X
Former Pakistan cricketer and ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years in jail in the Cipher case. The former cricketer who has been on and off limelight, on Tuesday, January 30th was handed a 10-year sentence in the case which involved leaking of state secrets. The verdict was delivered orally by Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, who has been presiding over the case's hearings at the jail since its inception last year.
Speaking more about the case, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan along with Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi reportedly leaked the state papers. It concerns moreover around a diplomatic document, which, according to the Federal Investigation Agency's charge sheet, was not returned by Imran Khan.
The PTI also took to X (formerly Twitter) to stand in support of Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi. “Pakistan stands with Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Quresh, who defended Pakistan and stood for Haqeeqi Azadi. No such sham trial can change what happened in March - April 2022, on the order of Donald Lu,” the body wrote.
Imran Khan reacts on 10-year sentence in Cipher Case
The 71-year-old took to X to drop his first reaction on being handed 10-year jail sentence, claiming the violation of constitutional requirements. “My Pakistanis! You all must have heard by now from my lawyers how the trial of cipher and other false cases is being completed in violation of constitutional requirements and legal regulations,” he began.
“Remember that Cipher is a case which has been declared null and void twice by the Islamabad High Court and ordered to be re-tried because both time the case was tried to be run in violation of the constitution and the law. Then the Supreme Court has also given me bail in this case because the whole building of this case has been built on lies, bullying, conspiracy and deceit,” he further added.
Earlier in December 2023, the Supreme Court has granted post-arrest bails to the World Cup winning captain, but he remained detained due to several other cases ongoing in the court. In 2022, Khan was ousted as Pakistan PM through a vote of no-confidence, followed by jail in August 2023.
However, his three-year sentence in the Tokhakhana case was suspended by the Islamabad High Court, he was back in prison in the cipher case and was surviving on judicial remand in the Attock jail.
