Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been sentenced to 3 years in jail for illegally promoting state items he obtained throughout his prime.
Legal specialists say a conviction within the case might finish Khan’s probabilities of operating in nationwide elections because of be held earlier than early November.
“Judge Humayun Dilawar has announced involvement in corrupt practices has been proven,” Pakistan TV mentioned.
Khan didn’t attend the listening to on the Islamabad High Court and the decide ordered his fast arrest. It is the second time this yr that the favored opposition chief has been detained.
The 70-year-old cricketer turned politician was arrested at his residence after police raided his residence in Pakistan’s second-largest metropolis, Lahore. He will now be taken to the capital Islamabad.
Khan faces greater than 150 instances introduced in opposition to him since he was impeached final April – prices he says are politically motivated. Khan’s authorized staff mentioned they might attraction instantly.
A Pakistani court docket has sentenced deposed Prime Minister Imran Khan (pictured) to 3 years in jail for illegally promoting state items, native media retailers reported Saturday.
Police officers stand guard on the residence of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on Saturday
The 70-year-old cricketer turned politician was arrested at his residence after police raided his residence in Lahore
Police officers put together to take up place on a highway resulting in Imran Khan’s residence. He has now been transferred to Islamabad
Legal specialists say a conviction within the case might finish Khan’s probabilities of operating in nationwide elections because of be held earlier than early November. Pictured: Khan leaves the Supreme Court in Islamabad on July 24
“It is important to state that no chance to present witnesses was given, nor was there time to wrap up arguments,” mentioned one member of the staff.
The sentence is linked to an election fee investigation that discovered Khan responsible of unlawfully promoting state items throughout his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.
Khan – who was ousted following a vote of no confidence in parliament in April 2022 – denies any allegations.
The former Pakistani prime minister is accused of misusing his premiership to purchase and promote state-owned items obtained throughout visits overseas and value greater than 140 million Pakistani rupees.
His dramatic arrest in May – the place he was filmed being forcibly evicted from court docket by safety officers – sparked nationwide violent demonstrations by his supporters in almost each main metropolis within the nation.
Hundreds of protesters had been arrested after authorities and army properties had been attacked and not less than eight individuals died as unrest gripped Pakistan.
Of the a whole bunch of instances introduced in opposition to him, a number of relate to corruption, terrorism and incitement to violence over the lethal protests.
His arrest adopted months of political disaster and got here hours after the highly effective army reprimanded the previous worldwide cricketer for alleging a senior officer was concerned in a plot to kill him, which noticed an assassination try final yr.
Violence erupted when Khan was arrested in May. Pictured: Police officers detain a supporter of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan as they protest his arrest, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 9, 2023
Flames rise from the premises of Radio Pakistan after it was set on hearth throughout clashes between police and supporters of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan protesting his arrest, in Peshawar, Pakistan, on May 9, 2023. He is now jailed