Sharjah 24 – Reuters: A Pakistani high court turned down an appeal by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan that his conviction on corruption charges be suspended on Wednesday.
That's according to his lawyer, who suggested it was unlikely he would be released on bail anytime soon.
70-year-old Khan has been at the center of political turmoil since he was ousted last year as prime minister in a no-confidence vote.
It's raised concerns about Pakistan's stability as it grapples with an economic crisis.
He's been barred from holding any public office for five years since he commenced a three-year prison sentence on Saturday on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts acquired by him and his family.
The charges relate to his 2018-2022 tenure as prime minister.
His lawyer said the court asked the concerned authorities to respond to Khan's plea to be moved to an A-class jail cell with better facilities in a prison in Rawalpindi.
Khan, who has denied any wrongdoing, was arrested at his Lahore house and is currently in a prison near Islamabad.
His lawyer added that the case was adjourned for an indefinite time.
It comes as Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Khan after his ousting, said he would advise the president to dissolve parliament late on Wednesday, setting the stage for a national election.
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