Only a day after getting sentences to 10 years in jail for leaking state secrets – popularly known as the 'Cipher' case, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to a further 14 years in jail in a separate case, alongside his wife, Bushra Bibi.
Khan, who is also the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, was accused of illegally selling expensive state gifts, often referred to as the 'Toshakhana' case. Having been proven guilty, he has how been handed what happens to be a third jail term.
'Toshakhana', which roughly translates to 'house of treasures', refers to expensive state gifts that government officials are allowed to use, Khan, however, was accused of retaining gifts which were meant to be deposited back to the Toshakhana, and also illegally selling gifts.
Islamabad's anti-graft court, that gave the verdict, also disqualified both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi from holding a public office for ten years.
What is the Cypher Case Against Imran?
During an interrogation, Khan acknowledged misplacing a confidential diplomatic cable, and allegations against Khan claimed improper use of the classified document. This cable had been previously highlighted by Khan as evidence of a US-backed plot to unseat him from the prime minister's position the prior year.
The alleged encrypted message documented a meeting involving US State Department officials, including Donald Lu, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and the former Pakistani envoy, Asad Majeed Khan.
Khan had waved the alleged document during a public rally shortly before being removed as prime minister in April 2022, asserting it as evidence of a US-backed foreign conspiracy.
The encrypted document case against Khan escalated when his principal secretary, Azam Khan, affirmed to a magistrate and the FIA that Khan had utilized the US encrypted communication for his own "political advantage" and to forestall a vote of no confidence against him the preceding year.
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