{"id":54730,"date":"2024-01-31T19:33:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T19:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/celebs-slam-verdict-against-imran-khan-in-cypher-case-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-01-31T19:33:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T19:33:07","slug":"celebs-slam-verdict-against-imran-khan-in-cypher-case-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/celebs-slam-verdict-against-imran-khan-in-cypher-case-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebs slam verdict against Imran Khan in cypher case | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An accountability court sentenced former premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana case.<\/span> The verdict comes a day after the PTI founder was sentenced to 10 years in the cypher case by a special court established under the Official Secrets Act.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A Pakistan court<\/span> had <\/span>sentenced Khan and his aide, former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, to 10 years in jail in a case related to the <\/span>\u201c<\/span>leaking of state secrets<\/span>\u201d<\/span>.<\/span> A<\/span> special court set up in a prison in Rawalpindi on Tuesday announced the sentence in the <\/span>\u201c<\/span>cypher case<\/span>\u201d<\/span>, <\/span>involving<\/span> a diplomatic cable that Khan claims prove<\/span>d<\/span> that his removal from power in 2022 was a conspiracy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The court established under the Official Secrets Act found Khan guilty of misusing the confidential cable sent by a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States.<\/span> Khan has repeatedly denied the charge, saying the document contained evidence that his removal as prime minister was a plot hatched by his political opponents and the powerful military, with help from the US administration. Washington and the Pakistani army reject the accusation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Khan was Pakistan\u2019s premier from August 2018 to April 2022 when he lost a vote of confidence in the parliament. He has been in jail since August last year, facing trial in multiple cases.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The sentencing against the country\u2019s main opposition leader comes<\/span> a week before the general elections<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, a spokesperson for Khan\u2019s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, told Al Jazeera <\/span>that <\/span>the PTI will challenge the court\u2019s decision.<\/span> He<\/span><\/span> said that the trial was held in an \u201cunlawful manner\u201d.<\/span><\/span> \u201cOur lawyers were not allowed to represent Imran Khan. They were not even allowed to cross-examine the witnesses. What was unfolding in the court was merely a charade and a sham,\u201d Bukhari said.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>verdict<\/span> follows a massive crackdown against the PTI, which saw dozens of its leaders quitting the party and thousands of its members and supporters jailed.<\/span> Recently, the party also lost its election symbol \u2013 <\/span>the<\/span> cricket bat \u2013 and had been forced to field its candidates as independents.<\/span> But Bukhari said the verdict against Khan and Qureshi will only work in favour of the beleaguered party. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

PTI supporters and several celebrities have been condemning the verdict since yesterday, all while encouraging their fans and followers to vote for PTI on February 8. Rap star Talha Anjum on Tuesday, took a dig<\/a> at all political opponents of Khan on X. \u201cVote for Imran and ban all others. Long live Pakistan,\u201d he tweeted in Punjabi \u2013 the translation has been watered down to meet editorial standards. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Singer Hasan Raheem also shared, \u201cAur meri jaan kay totay<\/em> vote zarur daalna<\/em> (And my love, you must vote).\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Aur meri jaan kay totay vote zarur daalna<\/p>\n

\u2014 hasan raheem (@hasanraheeem) January 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Sharing the report of Imran\u2019s sentence, actor Armeena Khan wrote on X, \u201cNonsense! Pakistani judicial system was and is a joke.\u201d Actor Ushna Shah tweeted in a similar vein, \u201cTen years for what!? Is this a joke?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Ten years for what!? Is this a joke?<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ushna Shah (@ushnashah) January 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Guitarist Salman Ahmad also slammed the judge who passed the verdict, \u201cJudges like Hasnat [Zulqarnain] and [Humayun] Dilawar have devoted their entire lives to destabilizing the judiciary. Plummeting the rule of law index below the lowest in the world, who would want to be a judge in Pakistan?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Judges like Hasnat and Dilawar have devoted their entire lives to destabilising the judiciary . Plummeting the rule of law index below the lowest in the world , who would want to be a judge in Pakistan? pic.twitter.com\/Z4WTx94HyY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Salman Ahmad (@sufisal) January 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

In another tweet, he alleged, \u201cThe army chief in Pakistan does not represent the interests of 240 million Pakistanis. Today\u2019s army chief controlled court sentenced former PM Imran Khan and foreign minister SMQ to 10 years on a bogus case. The only way out for Pakistan is maximum voter turnout February 8.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The army chief in Pakistan does not represent the interests of 240 million Pakistanis. Today\u2019s army chief controlled court sentenced former PM \u2066@ImranKhanPTI<\/a>\u2069 & foreign minister SMQ to 10 years on a bogus case. The only way out for Pakistan is maximum voter turnout FEB 8. pic.twitter.com\/3U9wcRgi27<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Salman Ahmad (@sufisal) January 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Actor Adnan Malik went on to ask, \u201cThis is just history repeating. When will Pakistan stop being at war with itself? #CypherCase\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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This is just history repeating. When will Pakistan stop being at war with itself? #CypherCase<\/a> \ud83e\udd7e<\/p>\n

\u2014 adnanmalik (@adnanmalik) January 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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