Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan jailed for 10 years for violating Official Secrets Act

In what seems to be a game-changing moment in the current political scenario of Pakistan, the former Prime Minister and the 1992 World Champion skipper Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. He was found guilty of violating the Official Secrets Act of Pakistan. 

He, alongside his foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, was accused of revealing the nation’s secrets in public when they were active as a ruling party in the power of the government.

The order of 10-year jail for Imran Khan and his ex-minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was announced by special court judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain.

PTI to challenge the special court's decision in higher court

However, Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi can appeal against the decision of the special court in a higher court. Imran Khan was accused of sharing secret content, which was received by the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from their ambassador in Washington, USA.

After the special court announced the decision, Imran Khan-founded political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stated that they’ll challenge the special court’s decision and take it further to release their leader.

“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,” wrote the PTI on their official X-handle (formerly Twitter)

“InshAllah Kaptaan and Vice Kaptaan will be back soon, and this sentence will be in a dustbin in the appeal stage,” it added further.

Talking about cricket, the PTI chairman was the hero of the nation when the team registered a historic win in the 1992 World Cup under his captaincy. Imran Khan guided the team through to the finals to beat England and win the first-ever ODI World Cup for Pakistan in the history of the marquee international tournament.