Imprisoned Ex-Pakistani PM Imran Khan Convicted Again Before Vote

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan faced another setback when he was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Wednesday for corruption, just days before his political party, PTI, attempts to reclaim power in the upcoming parliamentary elections. This sentence follows his recent conviction and is the harshest one yet, adding to the ongoing tensions between the military and civilian leaders in Pakistan.

Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, who was also convicted on Wednesday, were accused of illegally retaining and selling state gifts while he was in office. Along with the prison sentence, Khan has been barred from holding public office for the next 10 years.

His lawyer, Babar Awan, criticized the speedy trial and conviction, stating that the judge didn’t even wait for Khan’s legal team to arrive. Khan’s ousting from power in April 2022 via a no-confidence vote led to him facing over 150 legal cases.

Despite his legal troubles, Khan continues to enjoy significant popularity in Pakistan. His arrest last year sparked violent protests across the country, including attacks on military installations. However, the authorities have since clamped down on his supporters and the PTI party, making further rallies unlikely. Many of the party’s candidates have been disqualified from the February 8 parliamentary elections.

Pakistan has a history of sidelining former prime ministers before elections, especially those perceived as threats to the security establishment. Analyst Azim Chaudhry noted the unusual rapid succession of Khan’s convictions, suggesting that they aim to keep him detained for an extended period unless he changes his rhetoric against national institutions.

Meanwhile, Khan’s rival, Nawaz Sharif, who has been acquitted of all charges and had a lifetime ban scrapped, appears to have a clear path to his fourth term in office. The current caretaker government, led by Prime Minister Anwaarul-Haq-Kakar, is overseeing day-to-day affairs and has pledged to ensure fair and peaceful elections, despite recent isolated attacks at election rallies.

Khan and Bibi were indicted for buying and selling state gifts at market value, pleading not guilty. Pakistani leaders are permitted to purchase such gifts, but earnings from their sale must be declared, which Khan reportedly failed to do. Besides the prison sentence, both were fined 787 million rupees ($2.8 million) each.

Khan is already serving a three-year corruption sentence and received a 10-year term for revealing state secrets; all sentences will run concurrently. PTI spokesperson Zulfiqar Bukhari criticized the ruling, and Awan plans to appeal the decision.

Bibi appeared in court after the verdict to avoid arrest and will begin her sentence. Khan, present at the hearing, left before the verdict was read, requesting the judge to wait for his lawyer. His request was denied.

Political analyst Muhammad Ali observed that Khan’s legal team often misses court dates to delay the trial. PTI head Gohar Khan encouraged supporters to vote for PTI in the upcoming elections as a show of support for Imran Khan, despite analysts predicting the party will struggle without his charismatic leadership.