In a significant turn of events, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and his associate Shah Mahmood Qureshi have been sentenced to 10 years in prison in a cipher case. The verdict was delivered by Judge Abu Alhasnaat Zulqurnain in a special court held at Adiala Jail, where the high-profile case was being heard. The charges against Khan and Qureshi are related to their alleged involvement in leaking state secrets, specifically accused of retaining and communicating a classified diplomatic cable sent by Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States.
The announcement of the verdict occurred during a court session where both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were expected to record statements under section 342 of the criminal procedure code. However, the court chose to deliver the verdict instead.
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The case has attracted considerable attention, leading to the presence of Imran Khan’s sisters and Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s children at the jail for Tuesday’s hearing.
Throughout the legal proceedings, the state defense counsel examined over a dozen witnesses, with only four of them being cross-examined by the defense’s lawyers. The case revolves around the alleged unauthorized possession and communication of a diplomatic cable, raising concerns about the leak of classified information.
The verdict is significant, given the high-profile nature of the individuals involved and the potential implications for the political landscape in Pakistan. The 10-year prison sentence represents a substantial legal setback for Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, both influential figures in Pakistani politics.
The case underscores the legal scrutiny faced by public figures regarding matters of national security and classified information. As the legal process unfolds, it remains to be seen how this development will impact the political dynamics in Pakistan, especially considering the prominence of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in the country’s political landscape.
