Pakistan court suspends former PM’s corruption sentence

Kathmandu: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has had his three-year sentence for corruption suspended, but it is unclear if he will be freed from jail.

The Islamabad High Court gave him bail until his appeal over the conviction is heard.

However, another court has also ordered the 70-year-old to be kept in custody until Wednesday in a separate case.

Khan’s lawyers say more than 100 charges have been brought against him since his removal from power last year.

These include leaking state secrets and organising violent protests. Various arrest warrants have been issued in relation to these charges.

The former prime minister’s lawyers are seeking a Supreme Court order to prevent him from being detained in any other case, but no date has been set to hear this petition.

The international cricket star-turned-politician was sentenced to three years in jail on 5 August for not declaring money earned from selling gifts he received during his time in office from 2018-2022.

The gifts – reported to be worth more than 140m Pakistani rupees ($635,000; £500,000) – included Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cuff links.

As a result of that conviction, he was barred from contesting an election for five years.

(News Source: BBC)