A Pakistan court ruled on Tuesday that the trial of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, facing charges under the official secrets acts, will be open to the public and media. The decision mandates the trial to be conducted on jail premises due to security concerns, according to Khan's lawyer.
The ruling comes after Khan was not presented in an open court trial on Monday, with the government citing threats to his life. The latest verdict would allow journalists and supporters of Khan to attend the trial which will be held within prison.
The trial aims to determine whether Khan violated official secrets acts by publicly brandishing a confidential diplomatic letter, referred to as a "cypher" or secret cable. The letter purportedly suggests that the US administration sought to remove Khan from power following his ouster through a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022.
The trial in jail will begin afresh on Friday, the court said. It has been conducting the trial in prison since Khan was indicted on the charges last month.
What Are The Charges Against Imran Khan?
Imran Khan, the 71-year-old former prime minister of Pakistan and ex-cricket star, has been embroiled in legal turmoil, confronting a range of charges since he was ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership in 2022.
Khan's legal troubles began with a three-year prison term in August, stemming from a graft conviction related to the improper sale of state gifts during his prime ministership from 2018 to 2022. This conviction also brings a five-year ban on his eligibility for future elections.
The latest charges against Khan revolve around a classified cable sent to Islamabad by Pakistan's ambassador in the United States last year. Khan is accused of making this classified information public.
Consistently denying any wrongdoing, Khan claims these charges are part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by the military and political opponents, including his successor Shehbaz Sharif. He argues that the leaked cable is evidence of a U.S. conspiracy aimed at removing him from power.
On August 9, 2023, The Intercept reported details of the diplomatic "cypher," suggesting U.S. State Department's involvement. The report claimed the State Department encouraged the Pakistani government to remove Khan as prime minister due to his perceived neutrality on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as per a classified Pakistani government document obtained by The Intercept.
Khan’s lawyers are currently fighting a legal battle to get bail for him ahead of Feb. 8. parliamentary elections. According to analysts, Khan’s party still could win the most seats, but he is not eligible to run for parliament due to his conviction in the graft case.
