Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has faced several charges since he was ousted from office in April 2022. Reuters
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has faced several charges since he was ousted from office in April 2022. Reuters
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has faced several charges since he was ousted from office in April 2022. Reuters
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has faced several charges since he was ousted from office in April 2022. Reuters

Imran Khan: Pakistan court grants bail to former prime minister


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Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has been granted bail in a case related to an alleged leak of state secrets, his lawyer said on Friday.

The country's Supreme Court ruling does not necessarily mean Khan would be released from prison, where he has been since August after being convicted on corruption charges involving the personal sale of state gifts.

There are several other arrest warrants against Khan which could prevent him from being released, his lawyer told reporters outside the hearing.

The three-member bench of the court granted bail to Khan and his deputy party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, subject to surety bonds of one million Pakistani rupees ($3,600) each.

Khan has faced several charges since he was ousted from office in April 2022.

The state secrets charge is related to a classified cable sent to Islamabad by Pakistan's ambassador in Washington last year, which Khan is accused of making public.

Khan denies the charge and says the cable appeared in the media from other sources.

The ruling comes ahead of the country's general election in February.

Khan is currently banned from standing in the election due to the corruption charge, but has said he plans to run regardless.

Khan plans on filing his nomination papers ahead of the deadline on Sunday, his party said.

The former cricket star is seen as widely popular in Pakistan. Even if he is unable to run, his potential release is seen as a boost for his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Khan accuses the country's military of manufacturing charges against him to prevent him from running in the election.

“It is completely the establishment” that is behind the crackdown against him, he said in June.

“Establishment obviously means the military establishment, because they are really now openly – I mean, it's not even hidden now – they're just out in the open.”

The military denies the claims.

The specs

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New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Hamilton profile

Age 32

Country United Kingdom

Grands Prix entered 198

Pole positions 67

Wins 57

Podiums 110

Points 2,423

World Championships 3

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Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

The biog

Favourite car: Ferrari

Likes the colour: Black

Best movie: Avatar

Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Nations League

League A, Group 4
Spain v England, 10.45pm (UAE)

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Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

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%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Agreements%20on%20energy%20and%20water%20supply%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Applied%20service%20fees%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20data%20and%20information%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Prohibition%20of%20service%20disconnections%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20complaint%20process%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Management%20of%20debts%20and%20customers%20in%20default%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Services%20provided%20to%20people%20of%20determination%20and%20home%20care%20customers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: December 22, 2023, 12:29 PM