Pakistan’s Ex-leader Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years for leaking state secrets. The political party of Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said in a statement on Tuesday.
The prosecution team of FIA proved guilty in the case. The special court said the prosecution had strong evidence to prove the crime.
The party added that the Supreme Court found Khan guilty of disclosing the secret documents sent by the ambassador of Washington to the government of Pakistan in Islamabad. In the same case, ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was sentenced to 10 years.
FIA Prosecution Team Secures Guilty Verdict in State Secrets Case:
In this case, three special prosecutors of FIA, Raja Rizwan, Zulfikar Abbas and Shah Khawar, were appointed. Several provisions were registered against Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Shah Mehmood Qureshi was blamed for assisting and supporting in the cypher case.
In the previous hearing, Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were given a questionnaire for statements under Section 342. In the questionnaire, they were asked to answer thirty-six questions.
During the cross-examination, the State Defense Counsel cross-examined the witnesses’ statements. Shah Mehmood Qureshi objected to the State Defense Council. The court ordered him to sit down. Otherwise, he will be sent out of the courtroom.
Objections and Lack of Confidence:
Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood expressed their lack of confidence in the judge. Lawyer Salman Safdar said it has become difficult to go along with the court in the current situation. Is the defence council formed by the court so capable of understanding the case in fourteen hours? Even after cross-examining the witnesses, it is impossible; the Supreme Court, in its decision, said for a quick trial, it did not say that it should go on daily.
The judge Abul Hasnat said the hearing is done daily when the accused are in jail. So Shah Mehmood said that even if the bail was granted, we must stay inside. You also have to answer to Allah, while the founder of PTI said, I am present; please register my presence; the fixed match is going on; what will I do here?
Imran Khan’s Public Support:
Khan’s aide, Zulfiqar Bukhari, said the legal team was not allowed to represent him or cross-examine witnesses. And added that this hearing was completed in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi under high security. He further said that this sentencing is an attempt to weaken Khan’s support among the public. “People will now make sure they come out and vote in larger numbers,” he told BizMediaUpdates.
Ali Zafar, another of Khan’s lawyers, told ARY television that the chances of the case being overturned on appeal were “100%” given the circumstances of the trial and sentencing.
The popular politician was sentenced to three years in prison in a corruption case in August. Due to this, he was ruled out from the public eye before the general elections on February 8.
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