Pakistan’s Khan jail term suspended, but he is still in custody

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s three-year sentence in the Toshakhana case, but it is not clear if he can run for the upcoming election in Pakistan.

PTI Chairman Khan has been banned from running for office for five years over a corruption case, but it is unclear whether the appeals court’s decision will affect this and eventually he will stand for election.

However, a special court recently established to hear cases under the Official Secrets Act has directed the Attock Jail authorities – where the former premier is incarcerated – to keep Imran in judicial lockup and produce him on August 30 (Today) in connection with the cipher case, according to local news agency Dawn.

“The accused Imran Khan is hereby ordered for judicial remand in case FIR mentioned above, who is already detained in district jail, Attock,” Dawn reported quoting Special Court Judge Abdul Hasant Muhammad Zulqarnain.

No social order without justice and rule of law

Khan’s aide on legal affairs Naeem Haider Panjotha also confirmed the same in a post on twitter. “The CJ has accepted our request, suspended the sentence and said a detailed decision would be provided later.”

Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said that Imran’s arrest in any other case after the suspension of his sentence in the Toshakhana case would be ill-intentioned and mala fide.

Khan, centre, is facing more than 100 cases since his removal from power in April last year (AP)

“We are fortunate to be witnessing the re-scripting of Pakistan’s political and legal history. After the suspension of Imran Khan sentenced in the Toshakhana case, his arrest in any other fake and fraudulent case will be ill-intentioned and mala fide. Justice must prevail – and justice shall prevail,” he wrote in a twitter post.

On August 5, Khan was jailed for three years in a case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that involved concealing details of state gifts. The verdict also meant that Khan was disqualified from contesting for general elections for at least five years.

PTI wants Khan’s release today

Khan’s political party, PTI, has demanded that Khan should be released from jail today (Tuesday). In a video post in its social platform twitter, shown lawyers were chanting (riha karo) “release him” outside the IHC.

“The high court has fulfilled the requirements of justice. I’ll tell you why: Aside from the merits of the Toshakhana case – which are baseless – the trial judge did not allow Imran to submit a witness in his defense,” local news agency Geo News quoted PTI Barrister Ali Zafar as saying.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Taimur Khan Jhagra said that national expected Khan to be released from jail today. “The abuse of the law campaign against Imran Khan has sunk the country’s systems far enough. We cannot afford more,” he said on twitter.

The former cricketing hero, Khan was ousted from power following a no-confidence vote in parliament last year, and he accused the powerful army of Pakistan and foreign conspiracy behind his removal. He went on several protests and encouraged his followers to take out to the streets and don’t’ accept the “slavery.”

Khan had fallen out with Pakistan’s military, triggering a political turmoil in a country that has been scrambling with its worst economic crises.

Shehbaz Sharif slams suspension of Khan’s sentence

Former Pakistan prime minister and one of key opposition to Khan, Shehbaz Sharif slammed the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial for “favoring” Khan after Islamabad High Court suspended his sentence.

Sharif, who is the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on his twitter account said that Khan’s sentence had been suspended and not terminated, and also expressed displeasure toward the court’s decision. He said that the IHC had been influenced by the apex court’s leniency toward Khan.

The country’s former interior minister, Rana Sanaullah also said that Khan must not come outside of the jail. “Release is not possible; he will have to face prosecution in other cases.”