In a corruption case, a Pakistani court found former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi guilty and sentenced them both to 17 years in prison. This increases the political crisis that is ongoing in Pakistan. The decision comes amid Imran Khan’s mounting legal issues, as he has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since August 2023 due to several charges of corruption and involvement with terrorism.
Court Ruling & Case Summary
The court has ruled that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have been found guilty of abusing power and accepting illegal inducements while Imran Khan served as Prime Minister. The case centred around allegations of financial misconduct related to state gifts and the alleged misapplication of a trust. The defence attorneys claim the allegations are politically motivated and were intended to remove Imran Khan from the political scene in Pakistan.
In light of this ruling, the likelihood of Imran Khan being able to make a political comeback in the foreseeable future is very limited. However, according to his legal representatives, they plan on appealing the ruling to higher courts as they feel that due process was not respected and the evidence presented was biased.
The Political Fallout and Military Angle
The sentencing has renewed discussions on the function of the Military Establishment in Pakistan, particularly regarding Army Chief General Asim Munir’s apparent greater hostility toward former Prime Minister Imran Khan than previous Chiefs of Staff, who have been perceived as less aggressive toward Khan. While some continue to view the verdict as an ongoing campaign to eliminate Khan through the judiciary, others believe that it is simply a matter of accountability that should be applied to everyone, regardless of position.
Is Asim Munir Taking a More Assertive Institutional Stand?
This has raised the question within Pakistan of whether or not General Asim Munir is taking a proactive approach by not mixing politics into the judicial process and allowing it to run its natural course. Supporters of the establishment view this unitary approach toward the judicial process as moving toward greater institutional discipline; however, Khan’s supporters believe it is part of a larger conspiracy to silence dissent.
