Pakistan’s Imran Khan trial in jail declared illegal, lawyer says: Analysis

The court has declared the in-jail trial of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be illegal, according to his lawyer, Naeem Panjutha. Khan, who was ousted from office in 2022, was indicted last month for revealing state secrets. Panjutha made the announcement on social media, stating that the Islamabad High Court ruled against the jail trial notification. The impact of this declaration on Khan’s trial is unclear and will be clarified by a court order. The trial has become a major issue in Pakistani politics, with Khan’s supporters claiming that the charges are an attempt by powerful interests to keep him out of office. Khan, a former cricket star, was removed from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, which he accused the United States of influencing. He was subsequently indicted on security charges for allegedly leaking a diplomatic cable. Since his removal, Khan has faced numerous legal challenges, including contempt of court, terrorism, and blasphemy charges.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/21/jail-trial-of-pakistans-imran-khan-has-been-declared-illegal-lawyer-says