A Pakistani court has issued a 10-year prison sentence against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and one of his party deputies, convicting them of "disclosing official secrets," amid a crackdown on his political party shortly before the upcoming elections.

Zulfiqar Bukhari, a spokesperson for Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, reported that the court delivered the verdict at a prison in Rawalpindi.

Imran Khan, removed through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, is currently serving a three-year prison term in an alleged corruption case. This development unfolds ahead of the parliamentary elections set for February 8, where Khan is disqualified from running.

Officials state that Imran Khan and his deputy, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, have the option to appeal the recent ruling in the Cipher case.

Despite being deemed "ineligible" for the February election, Khan retains significant political influence due to his widespread support and anti-establishment stance. Khan affirms that the legal proceedings against him are a scheme to sideline him before the vote.

Following Khan's arrest in May 2023, Pakistan witnessed violent protests, amid a crackdown against his supporters and party.

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The independent human rights commission in Pakistan has raised concerns about the likelihood of a fair parliamentary election next month, citing "pre-poll rigging". It has also expressed worry over the rejection of candidacies, including Khan and senior members of his party.

The allegations against Khan originated when he revealed a confidential document during a rally, emphasizing it as evidence of threats and asserting a US conspiracy in his ousting.
 
The document, known as Cipher, has not been publicly disclosed by the government or Khan's lawyers but is purportedly diplomatic correspondence between the Pakistani Ambassador to Washington and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.

Read more: It's all in 'Cypher': How US exerted pressure on Pakistan to oust Khan