Introduction

A Pakistani court has extended the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan by two weeks despite being released on bail a day earlier.

Reason for Detention

Khan will remain in a maximum security prison in connection with the release of an official classified document, according to his defense lawyer.

Court Decision

The Special Court, which was recently established to investigate cases of individuals accused of leaking state secrets, announced its decision after a brief closed hearing held at the Attock High Security Prison in the eastern province of Punjab, as confirmed by lawyer Intazar Hussein Panjuta. The next court session will take place on September 2.

Co-accused Leader

The court also sent Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the chief leader of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, to 14 days in prison awaiting trial. Qureshi, who was arrested earlier this month, faces the same charge of disclosing state secrets.

Legal Battle

Khan’s other lawyer, Salman Safdar, expressed his intention to apply to the court for Khan’s release on bail in the latest case. He argued against Khan’s imprisonment and trial, describing them as “illogical and unconstitutional”.

Previous Court Decision

The latest development comes as a blow to Khan and his team of lawyers, who were expecting his release after a court in the capital, Islamabad, suspended the former prime minister’s corruption sentence and a three-year prison term. The decision on Tuesday by the Islamabad High Court, which also granted bail, was a major legal victory for Khan. He has been in prison since August 5, following his conviction and sentencing by another court.

Accusations Against Khan

Khan has been implicated in more than 150 cases since his resignation in a vote of no confidence in parliament in April 2022. One of the key cases against him was filed by the Federal Investigation Agency earlier in August for “revealing an official secret document” that Khan brandished at a political rally in Islamabad after his suspension. In his televised appearances, Khan repeatedly cited the document as evidence of a US threat against him.

The Document

The document, known as “Schaifer”, was not made public by the government but appears to have contained diplomatic correspondence between the Pakistani ambassador in Washington and the Foreign Office in Islamabad.

Allegations and Resignations

Prior to his arrest, Khan publicly stated that his removal was part of a conspiracy by the United States, his successor Shehbaz Sharif, and former Pakistani military chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. These allegations have been denied by all parties involved. Sharif resigned on July 28 after the end of the parliamentary term. Bajwa was originally due to retire in 2019 but had his term extended by Khan for another three years. They later disagreed over the appointment of the head of Pakistan’s spy agency.

Military Rule and Political Implications

Pakistan’s powerful military has directly ruled the country for more than half of its 75-year history. Khan’s continued detention will give his political rivals an advantage ahead of a vote later this year. Pakistan’s electoral oversight body has stated that the election needs to be delayed by at least three to four months to allow for the redistribution of constituencies based on the recent census. It is widely believed that the vote will be postponed until February. In the meantime, interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar manages day-to-day affairs.