Pakistan Court Declares Imran Khan’s Trial in Leak Case Is Illegal

Kamran Haider
·1 min read
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(Bloomberg) -- A Pakistan court declared illegal former premier Imran Khan’s trial over accusations he leaked a secret diplomatic cable.

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A two-judge panel of the Islamabad High Court said authorities hadn’t fulfilled the requirements for an “open trial” held by a special court in the jail where Khan has been detained, according to court’s order.

The ruling means that the indictments for Khan and his then-foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi are also invalid, said Shoaib Shaheen, Khan’s lawyer, adding that the proceedings will now be required to restart.

In August, Khan was jailed in a separate corruption case and later disqualified from holding public office for five years. The populist ex-cricket star is fighting multiple charges as he aims to run in the country’s next election, which has been scheduled for February.

Read more: Pakistan’s National Elections to Be Held on Feb. 8

Prosecutors allege that Khan and Qureshi violated the nation’s Officials Secrets Act by leaking a classified diplomatic cable, part of an effort by Khan to show that his removal from power last year was a conspiracy by the US and Pakistan’s powerful military. Both countries have denied the accusation.

Read more: Imran Khan to Be Indicted in Pakistan Secrets Act Case Next Week

The Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday Khan’s application for bail in the leak case.

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