Bukhari said in a statement that Khan's conviction and sentencing was “another sad day in the history of our justice system being dismantled.”
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Authorities said that Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were charged three weeks ago with graft for retaining state gifts, including jewelry and watches, from the Saudi government. They pleaded not guilty.
Bibi was absent when the judge announced the ruling but later went to court to avoid arrest. She will be handed over to prison officials to serve her sentence.
Khan attended Wednesday's hearing briefly but left the courtroom when the judge was about to read the verdict. He said he could not stay there without his lawyer and asked the judge to wait. His request was rejected.
His lawyer, Awan, said the former prime minister would be sidelined before next week's vote, but noted that his party remained popular. Analysts say Khan has a strong popular base.
Awan also said that Khan's trial was conducted in violation of international and domestic laws.
Khan was ousted from power in a vote of no confidence in Parliament in April 2022. Despite his conviction and sentence, he remains popular, is serving time for a corruption conviction and has several other legal cases pending over him.
Pakistan has a history of arresting or sidelining former prime ministers before elections if they are deemed to pose a challenge to the security establishment.
In 2018, Nawaz Sharif, a three-time prime minister and Khan's rival, faced legal cases and prison sentences. Khan's party won the elections and formed a coalition government.
This time, Sharif has a clear path to a fourth term in office after the Supreme Court acquitted him of all charges and overturned a lifetime ban on politicians with criminal convictions from running in elections.
AP
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