Court Declares Imran Khan's Jail Trial Illegal

Former Pakistani Prime Minister faces numerous legal challenges, remains significant political figure ahead of February elections.

A Pakistani court has declared the jail trial of former Prime Minister Imran Khan illegal. Khan was being tried in jail on charges of revealing state secrets.
The charges against Khan relate to a classified diplomatic cable sent to Islamabad by Pakistan's embassy in Washington last year, which he is accused of making public.
Khan, who was ousted from office in 2022, has faced numerous legal challenges since his removal. He was convicted in one graft case and sentenced to three years in jail.
Despite being in jail, Khan remains popular and is seen as a significant political figure ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024.
Also on Tuesday, a court in Islamabad briefly heard an appeal from Khan’s main political rival, Nawaz Sharif, against his 2018 conviction in a graft case. Sharif, who served as prime minister three times, returned to Pakistan in October, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London mainly to lead his Pakistan Muslim League party in the parliamentary elections.