An appeals court in Pakistan has acquitted former Prime Minister Imran Khan of charges related to leaking state secrets. Despite the acquittal, Khan remains imprisoned due to other convictions and multiple pending cases.
In January 2024, Khan was convicted of treason and sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly exposing state secrets by waving a confidential document during a protest rally. This document was said to be diplomatic correspondence between Pakistan's Foreign Ministry and its ambassador to Washington. Khan asserted the document demonstrated threats against him and alleged that his removal from office in April 2022 was part of a U.S.-orchestrated conspiracy, a claim denied by both American and Pakistani officials.
Khan, who served as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 and is a former cricket star turned Islamist politician, continues to be a significant opposition figure in Pakistan. His lawyer, Intazar Hussain Panjutha, stated that the prosecution failed to prove their case in open court.
Though this recent acquittal is seen as a legal victory, Khan will not be released due to other convictions and ongoing legal battles, with over 150 lawsuits filed against him post-ouster.