Former Pakistani leader Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets, according to a statement from his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The closed-court hearing took place under the Official Secrets Act in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi are already incarcerated on corruption convictions. The case, known as the “cypher case,” involves accusations that Khan leaked an encrypted diplomatic cable in March 2022, suggesting a conspiracy against him. Khan has faced several legal battles, including a previous conviction that prevents him from contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections on February 8.
The sentencing is seen as part of a series of legal challenges faced by Khan, who alleged that his ouster in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022 was a conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistani officials, the military, and the US. Despite being in prison and unable to participate in the upcoming vote, Khan remains a significant political figure due to his widespread popularity. He has been behind bars since August 2022 after being found guilty of corruption, with dozens of pending cases against him. Khan maintains that the charges are politically motivated, a claim denied by authorities, and TV stations are prohibited from airing his speeches, while many of his PTI party colleagues have been arrested.