Imran Khan’s Detention
ISLAMABAD: The legal saga surrounding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s incarceration has taken various turns, with authorities employing strategies to prolong his detention indefinitely.
While courts have provided relief to Imran in some cases, the government has indicated its intent to keep him behind bars using other means.
Despite hopes among PTI members and supporters for Imran’s imminent release due to collapsing cases, government sources suggest otherwise.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is considering filing another case against Imran and others based on his controversial 1971 tweet.
Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is poised to file Toshakhana reference-II against Imran and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, ensuring their continued detention even if they are acquitted in other cases.
Imran has faced convictions in four cases, with three resulting in acquittals or suspended sentences. However, one case remains a significant hurdle to his release.
NAB has completed its probe into the Toshakhana case-II and is prepared to file a reference against Imran and Bushra in the accountability court at an opportune moment.
In the first Toshakhana reference, Imran and Bushra were sentenced to 14 years in jail, along with a hefty penalty. However, the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentence upon appeal.
Imran has faced legal challenges beyond the Toshakhana case, including disqualification from the National Assembly for concealing facts about selling expensive gifts. Additionally, he received a three-year sentence in the same case, which was also suspended by the IHC.
In another case, Imran and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were initially given a ten-year jail term, but the IHC later acquitted them.
The couple’s current obstacle to release stems from the iddat case, where they were sentenced to seven years in jail shortly before the February 8 elections.
Although hopes were high for Imran’s acquittal in the iddat case, delays in the judgment announcement have led to uncertainty, with the case referred to the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court due to concerns raised by Khawar Manika.
