A Pakistani appeals court has taken a significant legal step by suspending the 14-year prison sentence of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife in a corruption case. The court's decision, however, does not result in their immediate release as they are currently serving prison terms in other cases.
The Islamabad High Court made the ruling after hearing an appeal from the couple's lawyer. The court ordered the release of Khan and his wife on bail, but due to existing legal circumstances, they will remain in custody.
This development follows Khan's removal from power through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. With over 170 legal cases pending against him, Khan continues to face significant legal challenges.
Two months ago, Khan and his wife were found guilty of unlawfully retaining and selling state gifts during his tenure as prime minister. Their lawyer argued in court that the couple did not receive a fair trial and asserted that they were not involved in any wrongdoing.
The court is set to reconvene later this month to further deliberate on the case. Despite his legal troubles, Khan maintains popularity in Pakistan, as evidenced by his party's strong performance in the recent parliamentary elections.
While Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party secured a notable presence in the National Assembly following the February elections, they fell short of a majority. PTI has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, alleging that the vote was rigged.
