Thu Nov 21 06:03:35 UTC 2024: ## Pakistani Court Grants Imran Khan Bail, But He Remains Jailed
**Islamabad, November 21, 2024** – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was granted bail on Wednesday in a graft case involving the alleged illegal sale of state gifts, his lawyer confirmed. However, the Opposition leader will remain in prison due to numerous other pending charges against him.
The bail order, issued by a superior court in Islamabad, provides a small victory for Khan, who was ousted in a 2022 no-confidence vote. He and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are accused of violating government rules by keeping and selling gifts received during his time in office. Khan denies the allegations. While Bibi was previously granted bail in the same case, Khan’s release remains blocked by at least eight other outstanding cases.
Khan faces over 150 charges in total, having received multiple sentences, some of which were later overturned on appeal. The legal complexities surrounding his multiple cases, and ambiguities in the law concerning concurrent sentences, have kept him incarcerated in Rawalpindi since his first conviction. He maintains his innocence, claiming the charges are politically motivated.
Despite the bail, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed Khan’s immediate release is impossible due to the ongoing cases. Adding to his legal woes, Rawalpindi police filed new charges against Khan late Wednesday, accusing him of inciting violence following clashes between his supporters and police in September.
Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), continues to demand his release and has called for a rally in Islamabad this Sunday, despite a government ban on such gatherings. Islamabad authorities have deployed additional police in anticipation. The case highlights the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding Khan, with his supporters maintaining his innocence and the government pursuing multiple charges.
First Piper 