Imran Khan, the former Pakistani prime minister, was taken into custody after receiving a three-year prison sentence from a Pakistani trial court on Saturday. He was found guilty by the court in the Toshakhana corruption case of illegally selling state gifts. Additionally, the court barred him from politics for a period of five years.
Imran Khan did not attend the hearing in court. He was detained by Pakistani police at his home shortly after the announcement, according to a statement from Imran Khan’s attorney, as reported by Reuters.
According to AFP, citing Pakistan TV, “Judge Humayun Dilawar announced that involvement in corrupt practises has been proven.” Since his removal in April of last year, Imran Khan has been the target of more than 150 charges. Imran Khan, on the other hand, claims that the cases are driven by politics. Imran Khan’s legal team announced after his detention that they would immediately appeal.
The team member who added, “It’s important to mention there was no chance given to present witnesses, neither was time allotted to round up arguments,” was quoted by AFP.
Reuters said that Imran Khan would find it challenging to run in the national elections slated for early November this year if he is unable to successfully appeal his sentence despite numerous attempts.
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Rs. 10 Lakhs Additional Fine on Imran Khan:
The Tehreek-e-Insaf leader was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000,000 by the court in addition to the jail sentence. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) brought the complaint against Imran Khan for withholding information on Toshakhana gifts.
He was found guilty of engaging in corrupt practices after the judge claimed that he purposefully provided false information to the Pakistani Election Commission, according to local media outlet “The Dawn.”
In the lawsuit, which the ECP filed in May, the Pakistani prime minister is accused of “deliberately concealing” information about the gifts he kept from the Toshakhana. It serves as a storage facility for gifts given to government representatives on their travels abroad. The prime minister was accused of hiding information on gifts kept during his leadership.
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