Imran Khan: Pakistan former PM jailed in state secrets case as election looms
BBC NewsJAN 2024
Pakistan: Imran Khan Sentenced to 14 Years
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The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Khan has been mired in controversy and scandals for years, and the mounting evidence is too much to ignore. Khan has used his power to subvert democracy, including his attempt to dissolve parliament to escape the no-confidence vote that ousted him. Now, he's using his platform to bring Pakistan to the brink of civil war. While Khan should be pursued legally for his wrongdoings, the government should be careful not to turn this political crisis into something worse.
Establishment-critical narrative
This is a sad day for Pakistan and democracy. Though Imran Khan is extremely popular among Pakistanis, global powers, particularly the US, want him removed from public life because he refuses to act as a puppet. Khan was wrongfully dismissed as prime minister in a coup, and now he is being jailed to ensure he never again represents the will of the people. For decades, Pakistani leaders the US doesn't like have conveniently been assassinated or imprisoned — Khan is just the latest victim.