Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan (File Photo)
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sent to judicial custody for two weeks in the cipher case. Just yesterday, the Islamabad High Court suspended the three-year sentence awarded to Imran Khan in the Toshakha case and ordered his release. But it is not possible for him to come out of jail after being kept in custody in Cipher case. In a major relief to former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan ahead of general elections, the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday stayed his conviction and three-year jail sentence in the Toshakha corruption case.
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The court also ordered the release of Imran from jail. But due to the hearing of the case against him under the Official Secrets Act, he has to stay in jail for now. The much-awaited decision was delivered by a division bench of Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri. The division bench on Monday reserved its decision after hearing arguments from both sides on Imran’s petition challenging the lower court’s decision in the case. “All we are saying now is that (Imran’s) application is allowed,” Justice Farooq said.
In a brief WhatsApp message, Imran’s Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) said, “The Islamabad High Court has stayed the district court’s decision. The court also ordered the release of Imran (70) on a bond of Rs 1,00,000. Cricketer-turned-politician Imran and his family were convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for illegally selling government gifts received during his tenure as prime minister between 2018 and 2022.
The Sessions Court also barred the PTI chief from participating in political activities for the next five years, barring him from contesting the next elections. Imran challenged the lower court’s decision in the Islamabad High Court.