Pakistani appeals court has acquitted former Prime Minister Imran Khan of leaking state secrets but he remains behind bars serving prison terms and awaiting more cases. Khan was convicted in January of treason for waving a confidential document at a protest rally. The document is believed to be diplomatic correspondence between the Pakistani ambassador to Washington and the Foreign Ministry. Khan claimed the document was proof he was being threatened, accusing his ouster in a no-confidence vote of being a U.S. conspiracy. American and Pakistani officials deny this.
Despite the acquittal, Khan will not be released as he faces other convictions and more than 150 lawsuits since his ouster in April 2022. The ruling party heavily clamped down on Khan’s supporters after his arrest, leading to violent demonstrations. Khan, a former cricket star turned politician, served as prime minister from 2018 until his ouster, and remains a popular opposition figure.
The Islamabad High Court’s order calls for the January judgement to be set aside, with the possibility of prosecutors appealing the acquittal. Khan’s lawyer welcomed the ruling, stating the prosecution failed to prove their case in court. The acquittal, though a victory, does not change Khan’s current situation.
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