In August, Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a former prime minister, found himself behind bars after being convicted of corruption in a separate case. Recently, the Supreme Court granted him bail in a case related to leaking state secrets, known as the cipher case, along with former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. While this was a significant development, it doesn’t mean Imran Khan will be released anytime soon.
Despite obtaining bail in the cipher case, Imran Khan faces a complex legal landscape with multiple charges across different courts in Pakistan. One notable case is the Toshakhana reference, which led to his disqualification. Although he secured bail in this particular instance, there are still two substantial hurdles to overcome — two corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
These NAB references involve significant amounts of money, including a £190 million settlement case. The bail petitions for these corruption cases are currently pending before the accountability courts. Until Imran Khan secures bail in these remaining cases, he will continue to be held in custody. The legal challenges he faces underscore the complexity of the legal system and the various allegations against him.