Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years in jail
The decision was announced by special court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain
RAWALPINDI: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan was sentenced to 10 years in jail in the cipher case on Tuesday.
The decision was announced by special court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain during the hearing held at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The judge has been holding hearings of the case in Adiala Jail since it started last year.
Apart from Imran, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi also received the same sentence.
Before announcing the verdict, Judge Zulqarnain, during the hearing, reminded the PTI leaders that their lawyers were not appearing in court and were given state lawyers.
The court also observed that Qureshi and Imran were given the questions under 342. However, Qureshi said that his lawyers are not present so how can they record their statement.
Both politicians had pleaded not guilty to their involvement in the offence related to the alleged misuse of diplomatic cable for political purposes.
The verdict comes a day after the hearing was adjourned as the proceedings were disrupted, as Imran and Qureshi lost their temper and started shouting.
Imran played 88 Tests and 175 ODIs for Pakistan over the course of his illustrious career.
His averages, 37 with the bat and 22 with the ball, kept him at the top of the quartet of star all-rounders, Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev being the others, who impressed one and all in Test cricket in the 1980s.
During Imran's last 10 years of international cricket, he featured in 51 Tests, averaging a remarkable 50 with the bat and 19 with the ball.
Imran also led Pakistan to their first series victory in England in 1987 but the best moment of his career came when the Men in Green clinched the 1992 World Cup trophy under his inspirational leadership.
