Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years in prison

Islamabad, Pakistan CNN —

Pakistan’s former leader Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets, his political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said in a statement Tuesday.

The hearing took place Tuesday in a closed court established under the Official Secrets Act in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi are already incarcerated on corruption convictions.

The pair “have been sentenced 10 years each in a sham case with no access to media or public in Cypher Case,” PTI said, adding their legal team “will challenge the decision in a higher court” as they hope to get the sentences suspended.

Hours later, at least three people were killed and seven injured in an explosion in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, according to PTI. The blast happened after a rally by the party’s national assembly candidate, Saddam Tareen. Tareen was unharmed, a PTI officeholder said.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 17, 2023.

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An emergency was declared by the hospitals of Sibi and Quetta, according to a spokesperson of the health department.

Khan later reacted to the 10-year prison sentence, calling it “a fixed match whose outcome was predetermined.” The statement, posted to his account on X, also urged supporters to show up to the upcoming general elections.

“My Pakistanis! This is your war and this is your test that you have to take revenge for every injustice by your vote on February 8 while remaining peaceful,” the statement said. “Innocent Pakistanis imprisoned in jails for the last 8 months will get