Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years in prison ahead of Pakistan elections

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Vice-President of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. The sentencing, related to allegations of leaking classified state documents, comes less than two weeks before the upcoming elections. Both Khan and Qureshi were convicted inside Adiala jail, where Khan has been under confinement since August.

As the PTI contends with legal challenges, the party’s presence in the election has been hampered. The election symbol has been revoked, forcing candidates to run as individuals. The sentencing adds to the obstacles faced by PTI, raising concerns about the fairness of the electoral process. Tauseef Ahmed Khan, a human rights activist, denounced the move as a “murder of justice” and predicted an increase in Khan’s popularity among the public due to perceived injustice.

Imran Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, faced ousting in a no-confidence vote, alleging a US-backed conspiracy orchestrated by the military. His arrest last May led to a crackdown on PTI, with many senior leaders defecting or going underground. PTI’s limited presence and electoral challenges contrast with the return of Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former prime minister, from self-imposed exile, seeing his convictions dissolve in the courts. Analysts suggest that Sharif is emerging as a favored candidate, reflecting historical patterns of military influence in Pakistan’s politics.

According to Pakistan’s constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of parliament being dissolved, which occurred five months ago. The election commission cited the delay in redrawing constituency boundaries after a new census in 2023. Meanwhile, Pakistan has been under the rule of a caretaker government, perceived as pliable by the military establishment. The sentencing raises questions about the political landscape and the upcoming elections’ integrity.