Only a day after he was sentenced to a decade in jail, former Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan on Wednesday was ordered jailed for 14 years in a separate case, dealing him one other heavy blow in his bitter feud with the nation’s highly effective navy.
The brand new sentence, handed down eight days earlier than a scheduled nationwide election during which Mr. Khan’s social gathering has been battered by a widening crackdown, got here in a case involving state presents. His spouse, Bushra Bibi, additionally obtained a 14-year sentence. Each have denied any wrongdoing.
In saying the decision on the high-security jail the place Mr. Khan, 71, has been held for months, the choose additionally stated that the previous prime minister and his spouse could be barred from holding workplace for 10 years.
Mr. Khan questioned the equity and impartiality of the trial throughout the listening to on Wednesday. He requested the choose: “Why are you in a hurry to announce the verdict? I have not even recorded my final statement.” Mr. Khan then exited the courtroom, and the choose introduced the sentence in his absence.
His legal professionals stated they’d attraction the decision. They’ve additionally stated they’ll attraction the 10-year sentence that Mr. Khan obtained on Tuesday, in a case involving state secrets and techniques.
“These cases are not trials; this is a drama,” Syed Ali Zafar, a senior authorized aide to Mr. Khan, instructed reporters. “The Constitution and the law have been violated; there is no doubt that this punishment will be suspended soon.”
However analysts stated that Mr. Khan’s destiny was much less a judicial matter than a political one, following a well-known sample during which standard politicians in Pakistan have been barred from politics after falling out with the navy institution. Prime generals have lengthy guided the nation’s politics from behind the scenes.
In 2017, Nawaz Sharif, a three-time prime minister who additionally has a historical past of operating afoul of the navy, was faraway from workplace after the Supreme Courtroom dominated that corruption allegations had disqualified him.
Mr. Sharif now seems to have been rehabilitated by the navy, after his earlier sentences had been overturned and he was allowed to return to Pakistan from exile. He’s now operating an election marketing campaign within the hope of turning into prime minister for a document fourth time.
His rival, Mr. Khan, a former world-famous cricketer, was faraway from energy in April 2022 after a parliamentary vote of no confidence, which got here quickly after a rift developed between him and the navy’s senior command.
Since then, he has led a strong political marketing campaign, defiantly taking over the generals and setting off a wave of discontent and anger amongst a big part of society. His recognition amongst residents stays excessive, regardless of makes an attempt to sideline him.
Nonetheless, analysts stated Mr. Khan’s authorized troubles had significantly diminished the probabilities of success for his political social gathering, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or P.T.I., on the polls on Feb. 8.
“These convictions will surely dent the morale of Mr. Khan’s party workers,” stated Sabir Shah, a political analyst within the jap metropolis of Lahore.
