In a recent development, a Pakistani court has formally accused Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of the country, of disclosing government secrets.
Kabul 24: The accusation, based on a criminal complaint filed on Wednesday, December 13, has dealt a significant blow to Khan’s political prospects and raised doubts about his participation in the upcoming general elections in Pakistan scheduled for February.
According to reports from the Reuters news agency, Imran Khan has vehemently denied the allegations of revealing classified government information.
The charges are specifically linked to a confidential telegram sent by the Pakistani ambassador in Washington to Islamabad last year, with Khan facing accusations of disclosing its contents.
Shah Khawar, the government prosecutor, confirmed that the accusations were formally presented in court.
Both Imran Khan and his associate, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, have denied any wrongdoing.
Khan’s defense attorney also rejected the charges, asserting that they would only hold weight if the accused’s signature was authenticated.
This development follows the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s recent rejection of the former Prime Minister’s request to dismiss his legal case just a few days ago.
The indictment has dealt a fresh blow to the incarcerated popular leader’s chances of contesting national elections in February and returning to power.
Co-defendant Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Khan’s deputy and a former foreign minister, was also indicted for his alleged role in the case. Foreign media representatives were not allowed to cover the legal proceedings, while only a handful of local journalists were given access as usual.
“The charges were read out loudly in the courtroom,” government prosecutor Shah Khawar told Reuters, saying Khan and Qureshi both pleaded not guilty.
