South Asia

Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan indicted in state secrets acts case

A Pakistani court indicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his deputy in a case involving state secrets acts, according to a report by broadcaster Geo TV on Monday. This development marks another setback for the ex-premier, who is currently incarcerated in a prison near Islamabad.

Imran Khan was imprisoned in August after being convicted of corruption charges related to the unlawful sale of state gifts during his tenure from 2018 to 2022. Although a court suspended his prison term weeks later, he has remained in custody due to the state secrets case, which has hindered his release.

The former premier alleges that the charges are a deliberate attempt to prevent him from participating in an upcoming election early next year, an accusation denied by the authorities.

Imran Khan has been disqualified from participating in politics for five years since his August conviction on graft charges, as reported by local media. Despite his incarceration, he retains a strong following after his removal from the premiership in 2022.