Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has been handed a 10-year jail sentence for allegedly leaking state secrets, according to an announcement by his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), on the social media platform X this Tuesday.
The 71-year-old, who transitioned from a national cricket captain to Pakistan's prime minister in 2018, had already faced political challenges, being ousted from office by opponents in 2022 and subsequently arrested in May 2023 on corruption charges, resulting in a three-year prison term.
Khan and his supporters have consistently labeled the charges as politically motivated. The case, known as Cipher, led to both Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi receiving a decade-long prison sentence. The focus of the case revolves around alleged leaks of secret diplomatic communications between Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S. and Islamabad during Khan's tenure as prime minister.
During a rally in March 2022, Khan presented a document on stage, claiming it was evidence of a foreign conspiracy against him. Though he did not explicitly name the U.S., he later voiced criticism of Washington. In April of the same year, Khan was removed from power through a vote of no-confidence by opposition lawmakers, citing corruption and unconstitutional actions. The charges were substantiated by the country's Supreme Court.
In response to Tuesday's prosecution, Khan's opponents accused him of leaking classified materials and damaging diplomatic relations through the incident involving the document.
Back in 2022, Khan and his supporters contended that his removal from power was part of a conspiracy orchestrated by current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the United States. Khan's criticism of Pakistan's powerful army and his longstanding opposition to the U.S. were cited as sources of tension.
Both Sharif and the Biden administration denied these accusations. Despite Khan's initial criticism, he later expressed a desire to improve relations with the U.S. if reelected. However, his current legal situation prevents him from standing in the upcoming General Elections on February 8, where he was considered a potential favorite.
In a November 2022 interview, Khan appeared to make a shift in his stance against the U.S., stating, "As far as I’m concerned, it’s over, it’s behind me. The Pakistan I want to lead must have good relationships with everyone, especially the United States." Nonetheless, he continued to critique Islamabad's relationship with Washington, attributing the dynamic to a historical "master-servant relationship."
Despite Khan's popularity across the country of 230 million, his arrest in 2023 led to calls from the PTI and his supporters to shut down Pakistan, block roads, and stage mass protests demanding his release. However, subsequent arrests of protesters and politicians have dampened public willingness to demonstrate, with an anonymous freelance writer in Islamabad noting, "The message is clear: Back off or go to prison."