Pakistan court clears Imran Khan of sedition charges
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In a recent turn of events, a Pakistani court has made a significant decision regarding former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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Former Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan gestures as he speaks during an interview with AFP at his residence in Lahore on May 18, 2023. (AFP)
A Pakistani court invalidated on Monday a sedition case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, providing him some respite.
Imran Khan, renowned for his cricket career and later foray into politics, had recently faced imprisonment due to corruption charges. The sedition case, originating from a speech he gave, was filed in Quetta, Balochistan, alleging seditious content.
Khan appealed the case, arguing that the necessary consent from federal or provincial authorities was missing for the sedition charges. The Balochistan High Court supported his appeal, deeming the charges unlawful and directing their dismissal.
Simultaneously, Khan's lawyer, Naeem Panjutha, expressed relief on a social platform. This sedition case was just one of several legal actions against Khan following his parliamentary confidence vote loss in 2022.
On the same day, another high court in Islamabad was set to rule on Khan's appeal for suspending his conviction and jail term for corruption. Khan's fallout with Pakistan's influential military led to his political downfall, contributing to instability in a nation grappling with economic challenges. It is worth noting that Khan remains ineligible for political office for five years and cannot participate in contests.
Read next: It's all in 'Cypher': How US exerted pressure on Pakistan to oust Khan
Pakistani parliament speaker says election to be delayed: Exclusive
The Pakistani elections are expected to be delayed around 3-4 months from October, Pakistani Parliament Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has lately told Al Mayadeen's Proximate Aspect.
The Pakistani official discussed domestic issues during his first interview with an Arab TV channel, including the general election, investments in Pakistan, and the numerous issues pertaining to former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Citing the elections as "very important", Ashraf highlighted the recent population census undertaken by the Pakistani government. This led to a decision to reconfigure electoral constituencies, a process projected to require substantial time, ultimately contributing to the election delay.
