RAWALPINDI: Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the party’s leader, have both been given 10-year sentences in the cipher case.
The issue concerns claims that the former prime minister leaked information from a classified cable that the nation’s envoy in Washington DC delivered to the Islamabad administration.
For the troubled PTI founder, this is his second conviction in as many months. In a prior corruption case, he received a three-year term. His imprisonment was suspended as he contested the conviction for corruption, but it had already disqualified him from running in the general elections that follow next month.
In front of both PTI leaders, special court judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain made the announcement verbally about today’s ruling at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The Official Secrets Act of 2023 established the special court. Since the case began last year, Judge Zulqarnain has been holding hearings in Adiala Jail.
Regarding their involvement in the suspected misuse of diplomatic cable for political objectives, both lawmakers had entered not guilty pleas.
During the hearing, Judge Zulqarnain reminded the PTI leaders that their lawyers were assigned state lawyers and would not be attending in court before declaring the verdict.
The court further noted that the questions under 342 were presented to Qureshi and Imran. Qureshi countered that they cannot record his remarks because his lawyers are not present.
The decision was made one day after the hearing was postponed because of a disturbance caused by Qureshi and Imran in the courtroom.
