In a shocking development, Pakistani authorities have launched a criminal investigation against imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan on charges of leaking state secrets. Khan, along with three of his aides, has been named in the case, which revolves around a classified cable sent to Islamabad by Pakistan's ambassador in Washington.

The 70-year-old former cricketer has been accused of making this classified information public as part of a U.S. conspiracy to remove him from power. Both Washington and the military have firmly denied these allegations. Khan, who is currently serving a three-year sentence in a corruption case, has also been barred from participating in politics for five years.

A top security source has revealed that the investigation is gathering evidence to build a case against Khan and that he has formally been arrested in connection with the charges. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is now probing the matter.

One of the three aides named in the case, former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has already been arrested and has been remanded to FIA custody for four days. The FIA case accuses Khan and his aides of disclosing classified documents to unauthorized individuals and distorting the facts for personal gains.

Legal experts have pointed out that under Pakistan's Official Secrets Act, a guilty verdict could result in a prison term of two to 14 years, or even death. The case asserts that Khan used the secret document in his own interest, disregarding national security concerns.

The former prime minister is also accused of illegally retaining a copy of the classified cable. These alarming allegations against Khan have further intensified the political turmoil surrounding him since his removal from power, with a nationwide protest movement and over 100 cases against him.

It remains to be seen how this criminal investigation will unfold and what consequences it will have on Imran Khan's political career. As the evidence continues to be collected and the case progresses, all eyes will be on the upcoming court proceedings and the potential outcome of this high-profile trial.