Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Ex-Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi sentenced to 10 years imprisonment

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to a 10-year jail term by a Pakistani court on Tuesday for violating the country's Official Secrets Act. The charge stems from the public disclosure of a diplomatic cable during his tenure. The verdict, delivered by Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, also included a 10-year conviction for Khan's former foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

The charges revolve around accusations that Imran Khan disclosed the contents of a confidential cable dispatched by the Pakistani ambassador in Washington to the government in Islamabad.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan's party, reported that both Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received 10-year sentences from a special court. Calling it a “sham trial”, PTI took to “X” and said, “Pakistan stands with Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who defended Pakistan and stood for Haqeeqi Azadi. No such sham trial can change what happened in March- April 2022, on the orders of Donald Lu.”

The PTI also stated that the verdict in the cipher case was a “total mockery” and “disregard of the law" and called on the public to participate in the general elections scheduled for February 8. “InshAllah Kaptaan and Vice Kaptaan will be back soon, and this sentence will be in a dustbin in the appeal stage,” added the post.​