Former Pakistan leader Imran Khan is jailed for 14 years a day after 10-year sentence

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to 14 years, his second conviction in as many days ahead of elections.

ISLAMABAD — Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was found guilty of corruption on Wednesday and sentenced to 14 years, yet another blow to the imprisoned populist leader days before his political movement attempts a return to power in parliamentary elections.

It was his second conviction in as many days and the harshest yet, and was seen as part of the long-running struggle between civilian leaders and the powerful military in the troubled Western ally.

Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi — who was also convicted Wednesday — were accused of retaining and selling state gifts in violation of government rules when he was in power. In addition to his prison term, Khan was disqualified from holding any public office for 10 years.

His lawyer, Babar Awan, dismissed the conviction as a violation of Khan’s basic rights, and said the former premier was convicted and sentenced in such a hurry that the judge did not wait for the arrival of his legal team.

Khan — who in the waning days of his premiership began to challenge the country’s military — was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in April 2022. He now has more than 150 legal cases hanging over him.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pakistan-former-leader-imran-khan-jailed-14-years-rcna136690

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