Arrest Puts Khan's Chances Of Fighting Election In Doubt

Concerns are mounting in Pakistan over Imran Khan’s eligibility to contest an upcoming general election after he was arrested for the second time this year.

- SHWETA SHARMA

The former international cricketer was swiftly taken into custody on Saturday from his home in Lahore after a sessions court sentenced him to three years in jail for illegally selling state gifts during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.

The conviction – even by a local sessions court – means Mr Khan will not be able to take part in any elections for the next five years as he will remain ineligible for public office. Mr Khan, who has denied any wrongdoing, faces more than 170 other cases. Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, a member of Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, told The Independent that he stands disqualified from fighting elections as of now, but the leadership is confident of a reversal as they are filing an appeal.

“He is [convicted] from the session court but he has an appeal in the high court and after that in the Supreme Court, where we are very confident that this decision will be reversed because it’s a very, very frivolous decision given by a very junior court,” he said. “And there’s no way that a five-year disqualification or any disqualification will stand in those courts.”

His legal team is confident there is “absolutely no way that this case can stand”. “The court declared Imran Khan as guilty in a judgment, which is lacking witnesses,” said Naeem Haider Panjhuta, Mr Khan’s spokesperson on legal affairs.