Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's Judicial Custody Extended Amid Leaked State Secrets Scandal

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's judicial custody has been extended by two weeks in relation to charges of leaking state secrets, his lawyer announced on Wednesday. Khan, who has been in prison since August, was convicted of corruption and sentenced to three years.

Along with former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, he is accused of making public contents of a confidential cable sent by Pakistan's ambassador to the United States and using it for political gain. Khan alleges that the cable proves the US had pressured Pakistan's military to orchestrate the fall of his government due to his visit to Russia before its invasion of Ukraine.

Both Washington and the Pakistani military have denied the accusations. Khan's detention comes at a crucial time as other political parties are building momentum for the upcoming general elections. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently announced the end of his brother Nawaz Sharif's self-imposed exile, which is expected to energize their party's campaign.

In contrast, Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is experiencing disarray, with numerous leaders defecting or facing imprisonment. The powerful military's alleged pressure on politicians has also played a role in the party's challenges.

In addition to the corruption case, Khan is facing charges of leaking state secrets, which have resulted in his continued remand in custody. Despite a suspension of his prison sentence, the conviction stands, and he is barred from contesting elections for five years.

President Arif Alvi, from Khan's PTI party, has suggested in a letter to the Election Commission that elections should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of a government, proposing a date of November 6.

However, the commission has the authority to determine the election date and may postpone it due to the marking of new constituency boundaries required by a recent census.