In a significant development, a court in Islamabad has overturned the conviction of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his associate, ex-Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a case involving the disclosure of classified information.
The verdict, which sentenced Khan and Qureshi to a decade in prison earlier this year, has been nullified by the court, marking a pivotal moment in their legal battle.
The case, known as the cypher case, revolves around a diplomatic cable that Khan asserts exposes a conspiracy behind his ousting from power in April 2022. The court, operating under the Official Secrets Act, found Khan guilty of misusing this confidential communication from a former Pakistani ambassador to the US.
Despite Khan’s persistent denial of the allegations, claiming the cable as evidence of a political vendetta orchestrated by his rivals and the military establishment, the court’s decision has brought a new twist to the narrative.
Following his tenure as the country’s leader from 2018 to 2022, Khan’s legal woes have kept him incarcerated since last August, entangled in various legal battles.
Although the recent ruling by the Islamabad High Court has overturned one of his convictions, Khan remains imprisoned due to another case where he and his wife were sentenced for violating Islamic law.
While Khan’s fate hangs in the balance, the future of Qureshi’s freedom remains uncertain, pending further legal proceedings.
Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, a prominent figure in Khan’s political party, hailed the court’s decision as a vindication of the baseless charges leveled against the former PM.
This development underscores the complexity of the legal saga surrounding Khan and Qureshi, shedding light on the intricacies of power dynamics and legal intricacies at play.
Article from www.aljazeera.com