A Pakistani court has handed down a 10-year jail term to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in connection with the leaking of classified state information.

The verdict was announced by a special court convened within a prison in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, concerning what is known as the cypher case. This case revolves around a diplomatic cable that Khan alleges supports his claim that his ousting from power in 2022 was the result of a conspiracy.

Under the Official Secrets Act, the court found Khan guilty of mishandling the confidential cable sent by a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States.

Despite Khan's repeated denials, asserting that the document contained proof of a scheme orchestrated by his political adversaries and the influential military, aided by the US administration, both Washington and Islamabad have refuted these allegations.

Khan served as Pakistan's premier from August 2018 until April 2022, when he was ousted after losing a parliamentary vote of confidence. He has been in custody since August last year facing multiple charges, including those related to the cypher case.

This sentencing of the prominent opposition figure occurs just ahead of the general elections slated for February 8.

BOB Post