In a significant development just days ahead of Pakistan’s parliamentary elections, former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been convicted in what is commonly known as the “cipher case.” The special court handed him a 10-year jail sentence for revealing official secrets by waving a confidential document, the cipher, at a public rally on March 27, 2022.
The document in question is believed to be a diplomatic correspondence between the Pakistani ambassador to Washington and the foreign ministry in Islamabad. Imran Khan is accused of exposing state secrets by disclosing the contents of this document. The Federal Investigation Agency filed the case against Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on August 15, 2022, alleging violations of secrecy laws while handling a cable sent by the Pakistan embassy in Washington in March 2022.
The conviction adds to the legal challenges faced by Imran Khan, who is already serving a three-year prison term, and over 150 other cases are still pending against him. Other charges range from contempt of court to terrorism and inciting violence.
The verdict comes just ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 8, 2023, adding a new layer of complexity to the political landscape in Pakistan. Imran Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has dismissed the trial as a sham and plans to appeal the conviction before the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday.
Imran Khan, currently in a Rawalpindi jail, maintains his innocence, asserting that he did not disclose the exact contents of the document during the public rally. He claimed that the document was proof that he was being threatened and that his government’s ouster was a conspiracy involving the Pakistani government and the military, allegedly executed with the support of the United States. Both the US and Pakistan governments have denied these allegations.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a senior leader of the PTI and former foreign minister, was also convicted in the cipher case and received a 10-year jail sentence. He was accused of manipulating the contents of the diplomatic cable to gain political advantage.
The legal team of PTI plans to challenge the decision in a higher court and aims to have the sentence suspended. The party criticized the proceedings, citing poor proceedings and lack of access to media and the public during the trial. According to a PTI statement, the Islamabad High Court had annulled proceedings twice, ordered access to media and the public, but the legal team’s access was denied, and the decision was reached hastily.
The conviction over revealing secrets raises questions about the impact on the upcoming elections and the broader political scenario in Pakistan. Imran Khan, a charismatic leader who rose to power in 2018, has faced increasing challenges, including economic issues, governance concerns, and opposition criticism. The PTI’s dismissal of the trial as politically motivated adds another layer of complexity to the already tense political environment.
As Pakistan prepares for the upcoming elections, the situation is likely to evolve rapidly. The legal battles and political maneuvers will shape the landscape, and the implications of Imran Khan’s conviction will resonate across the nation. The elections will be closely watched not only for their outcome but also for the integrity and fairness of the electoral process in a country grappling with complex political dynamics.