In a significant development, a Pakistani court granted former Prime Minister Imran Khan an appeal for his graft conviction, suspending his 14-year jail sentence, as confirmed by his lawyer.
Relief Amidst Legal Battle
This decision brings relief to Khan’s embattled party, which secured the most seats in February’s national polls. Just days before the elections, Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were convicted on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts by an anti-graft court.
Suspension of Sentence
Despite the suspension of his graft sentence, Khan will remain incarcerated due to multiple other sentences imposed on him before the polls, which also led to his disqualification from holding any public office for a decade.
Judicial Decision for Prime Minister Imran Khan
The Islamabad High Court stated that Khan’s graft sentence would be suspended until a final decision on the conviction is reached after Eid holidays. Barrister Ali Zafar, Khan’s lawyer, emphasized the lack of evidence supporting the conviction, leading to the suspension of the sentence during the first hearing of the appeal.
Allegations and Charges
Khan and his wife were accused of illegally selling gifts received during his premiership from the state treasury known as the “Toshakhana.” The gifts, valued at over 140 million rupees ($500,000), included perfumes, diamond jewelry, dinner sets, and luxury watches, one of which was a “Master Graff limited edition” Rolex valued at 85 million rupees ($304,000).
Legal Battle Continues
This isn’t the first legal battle Khan has faced. He was previously handed a three-year prison sentence for the same charge in August, although that sentence had been suspended on appeal. Khan and his party assert that these legal cases were fabricated to sideline him from politics at the behest of the powerful military, a claim denied by the army.