US State Dept maintains silence on Imran Khan’s sentencing, deems it a matter for Pakistan’s courts

WEB DESK: In Washington on Tuesday, the US State Department refrained from commenting on the imprisonment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

Spokesperson Matthew Miller, during a regular briefing, stated that it is a matter for Pakistan’s courts and provided no further remarks.

The statement followed the sentencing of Imran Khan and leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi to 10 years each in the cypher case.

This case involves allegations against the former prime minister for disclosing the contents of a secret cable sent by the country’s ambassador in Washington to the government in Islamabad.

PTI faced a significant setback this month as a court upheld an Election Commission decision to strip it of its traditional election symbol, the cricket bat.

In the aftermath, Khan’s candidates are now running as independents, many of them on the run, amid what the party describes as a crackdown backed by the military, a claim denied by the military.

In May last year, during Khan’s initial arrest, his supporters were accused of rioting, resulting in the arrest and trial of hundreds. Khan denies the involvement of his supporters in the alleged mob.

Despite the challenges, Khan urged his supporters to vote for candidates endorsed by him, emphasising a peaceful approach.

The timing of former premier Imran Khan’s sentencing, just before the polls, raises questions about the credibility of the upcoming election.

Pakistan’s recovery from an economic crisis is contingent on political stability, especially as the country navigates a precarious recovery path under a $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout that narrowly averted a sovereign default last year.

Imran Khan has been entangled in numerous legal battles since his ousting from power in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022.

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Web Desk