Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly leaking state secrets, reports emerged on Tuesday.Khan, founder of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi were handed the sentence by a special court in Pakistan over the controversial cipher case.The cipher refers to a diplomatic cable which Khan claims pointed to a foreign conspiracy to oust him as Prime Minister through a vote of no-confidence last April. Khan has repeatedly accused the US of orchestrating his removal, citing the cipher as evidence, although Washington has denied any involvement.PTI founder Imran Khan & Shah Mehmood Qureshi have been given 10-year prison sentences in the Cipher case, reports Pakistan media.(file photos) pic.twitter.com/EieM801kgm— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2024Both Khan and Qureshi were granted bail by Pakistans Supreme Court in December. However, Qureshis release was delayed after he was reportedly manhandled and arrested again in a separate case earlier this month.Khan himself has been detained in various cases since being removed as Prime Minister. He was jailed for three years in August 2022 for misuse of state gifts while in office, before being released on bail. Most recently he was arrested in the cipher case and held at Attock District Jail before being handed the 10-year sentence.The former cricket star turned politician denies all charges and claims they are politically motivated. The latest ruling is likely to further inflame political tensions in the South Asian nation as Khan continues to rally mass support.
