Pakistan's ex-PM Khan contests 14-year sentence, cites political persecution in trust case

Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife have appealed their corruption convictions in Islamabad High Court, claiming they were victims of political persecution after a court sentenced them to 14 and 7 years in jail respectively for allegedly mishandling millions in recovered state funds through a charitable trust.

On January 17, the Islamabad Accountability Court found PTI founder Khan and Bushra Bibi guilty of corruption. The court sentenced Khan to 14 years in prison and Bibi to 7 years. Both are currently serving their sentences in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.

Though initially refraining from seeking bail or sentence suspension, the couple has now filed a comprehensive 19-page appeal through their attorneys, Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Salman Akram Raja. The appeal argues that the Al Qadir Trust case, which involves £190 million, represents political persecution and harassment by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) through repeated prosecution.

In his appeal, Imran Khan argued that his conviction is "unjust, unfair, and a direct manifestation of political victimization orchestrated by his adversaries and the incumbent government." The former Prime Minister cites several incidents to support his claim, including his arrest on May 9, 2023, which he described as a "shocking and illegal abduction" from the biometric room of the Islamabad High Court while filing for pre-arrest bail.

The appeal also challenges the trial's conduct. Khan maintains that the trial court moved at an unprecedented speed, conducting hearings three times weekly, suggesting external pressure to reach a swift verdict.

Court also in crosshairs

Khan further alleged that the trial court's judgment was compromised, pointing to media leaks of the verdict before its official announcement. He notes that journalists and news anchors shared details on social media platforms prior to the formal declaration. The judgment, which was postponed three times, is described as "unsafe" in the appeal, forming the basis for his request to overturn the conviction.

Khan denies accusations of personal financial benefit or causing losses to the national treasury. He points out that NAB's own evidence contradicts their allegations. "The charge of creating a sham project for personal benefit is baseless," the appeal states, emphasizing that the Al Qadir Trust is a legally registered organization.

The appeal also incorporated the decision of the UK Court of Appeal’s Civil Division, delivered by Lady Justice Nicola Davies, Lord Justice Nugee, and Lord Justice Snowden. The judgment from the Immigration and Asylum Chamber clarified ambiguities regarding the transfer of funds from the UK to Pakistan’s Supreme Court registrar account. The appeal argued that this judgment dispels any misunderstandings related to the allegations.

The appeal requests that the Islamabad High Court overturn the convictions and clear both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi of all charges.