Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered in a surprise ruling on Friday the release of former prime minister Imran Khan and one of his party deputies on bail in a case involving alleged corruption.
Khan – currently serving a three-year sentence in jail in a corruption case – will not be presently freed, as he still faces two other corruption cases.
Friday’s ruling, which Khan’s defence team viewed as a legal victory and a political boost, was issued over charges of the former premier revealing state secrets when he waved an allegedly confidential document, dubbed Cipher, last year at a rally following his ouster from power. The document has not been made public.
“The court’s order is proof enough that the charges against Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were fabricated,” Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar said. Qureshi is a senior vice-president at Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
Pakistan’s bid for stability by banning Imran Khan ‘illusionary at best’
Pakistan’s bid for stability by banning Imran Khan ‘illusionary at best’
The judges of the Supreme Court concluded in their ruling that there was not enough evidence that Khan revealed official secrets while waving the document.
This came two days after his party announced that Khan would run in the country’s coming parliamentary elections from prison. According to Pakistani election laws, Khan can submit his nomination papers as his appeal against his conviction in the corruption case is yet to be decided on.
Analysts said the surprise development could help his party to win the elections, which are to be held on February 8.
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Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan arrested after being sentenced to jail for 3 years
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan arrested after being sentenced to jail for 3 years
Khan has had almost no contact with the outside world since he was imprisoned in August. Over the weekend, Khan for the first time used artificial intelligence to deliver a speech to his supporters.
The Cipher case trial is being held in Adiyala prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi where Khan is jailed. Only his legal team is allowed to attend court hearings, as authorities say the case is too sensitive.
Khan’s main political rival is Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former prime minister, who self-exiled and recently returned to Pakistan after having corruption charges overturned. Nawaz plans to run for a seat in the parliament in an effort aimed at becoming a prime minister for the fourth time.