In a significant development, a Pakistani court handed down a 10-year prison sentence to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and one of his party deputies on Tuesday. The verdict was delivered after they were found guilty of disclosing official state secrets, as announced by Zulfiqar Bukhari, the spokesperson for Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The court proceedings took place in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Imran Khan, who faced a no-confidence vote leading to his ousting from the prime ministerial position in April 2022, is currently serving a three-year prison term in connection with a graft case. This recent sentencing adds another layer of legal complexity to his situation. The timing of this development is noteworthy as it precedes the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 8 in Pakistan. However, due to his prior criminal conviction, Khan is barred from participating in the upcoming electoral process.

Khan’s defense team is expected to appeal the ruling, aiming to challenge the severity of the sentence and contest the charges of revealing state secrets. Despite his absence from the ballot, Imran Khan remains a formidable political figure, boasting a significant grassroots following and espousing an anti-establishment stance. Khan alleges that the legal actions against him are part of a larger conspiracy to sideline him in the lead-up to the crucial elections.

The political landscape in Pakistan has been marked by unrest and upheaval since Khan’s arrest in May 2023, leading to violent demonstrations. Authorities have responded with a crackdown on Khan’s supporters and his political party. The independent human rights commission in Pakistan has expressed concerns about the integrity of the upcoming parliamentary election, citing “pre-poll rigging” that could compromise its fairness. Additionally, there is unease about the rejection of candidacies for both Imran Khan and key figures from his party, further heightening the tensions surrounding the political scenario in the country.