Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, has appealed against his conviction and three-year prison sentence in a corruption case, his lawyer Naeem Haider Panjutha said. The Islamabad High Court is set to hear the appeal on Wednesday. Khan, who was ousted from power in April 2022, was convicted and jailed on Saturday for concealing assets after selling state gifts he received while in office. The former cricket star has denied the charges, maintaining that he did not violate any laws.
Khan’s lawyers have argued that the conviction should be “set aside” and declared “illegal and without lawful authority”, and have also requested the court to acquit Khan, claiming that he was arrested illegally. Panjutha met with Khan at the high-security Attock jail in eastern Punjab province, where the former premier is being held. Khan’s legal team has also filed a separate petition seeking better facilities for him at the jail.
Khan’s conviction has sparked widespread controversy, with his party and critics accusing the government of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of political victimisation. The government, however, has denied the allegations. Sharif replaced Khan last year after his ousting and is likely to step down on Wednesday following the five-year term of the current parliament.
The Pakistan Election Commission has disqualified Khan from running for office for five years, citing his conviction and sentence. Under Pakistan’s laws, no convicted person is eligible to lead a party, contest elections, or hold any public office. However, if Khan’s conviction is overturned by the Islamabad High Court, he will be allowed to contest the upcoming vote.
Prime Minister Imran Khan (Via Imran Khan/Twitter)
Khan’s lawyers have described the conditions at the Attock jail as harsh, with the former premier being held in a small room with no air conditioner and where there are flies in the daytime and insects at night. Panjutha has said that Khan is maintaining a high morale despite the difficult conditions.
Khan was previously arrested in May on corruption charges, triggering violent protests across the country. Days later, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered his release, citing that his arrest was illegal. Since his sentencing, Khan has renewed his call for mass protests, but has failed to gain traction among his supporters.
Khan has claimed that his ousting from power was a conspiracy by Washington, Sharif, and the Pakistani military – allegations that all three have denied. The fate of Khan, once Pakistan’s most popular politician, hangs in the balance as he awaits the outcome of his appeal.
