How long is Imran going to be behind the bars?

ISLAMABAD: How long will Imran Khan be imprisoned following the Toshakhana case ruling from the accountability court? Whether the former premier, who was also given a 10-year sentence in the Crypt case, will serve 14 or 24 years in prison.

Retired judges and legal experts predict that Imran Khan will serve a concurrent sentence rather than a cumulative one. Legal experts consider that the court must specify in his ruling whether the sentence is cumulative or concurrent. The sentences that are served concurrently are known as concurrent sentences. On the other hand, the cumulative sentence doesn’t start until the previous sentence has ended.

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According to Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed, the courts must specify in their order whether the sentence would be concurrent or cumulative. Imran Khan stated that he might serve a maximum of 14 years in prison if the court considers it as a concurrent sentence in his case.

Regarding Imran Khan’s bail status in both of these instances, Justice (retd) Wajih stated, “In principle, matters pertaining to the appeal of any national leader convicted in the course of an ongoing electoral process should take precedence.” He said, “The punishment should be suspended or the trial should be heard in its entirety as soon as possible.

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“The way the judiciary has acted in these situations is regrettable. Imran Khan’s case is being handled with the same indecent haste as was shown in the Avenfield case, the speaker claimed.

According to Senator Kamran Murtaza, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, when there are many convictions or sentences, the courts make it clear in the final/last ruling whether the penalties will be concurrent or cumulative. Generally speaking, unless a person is a highly wanted terrorist or a serious criminal, the court announces concurrent sentences. Imran Khan’s sentence will be concurrent, meaning he will only be required to serve the maximum amount of time, the speaker stated.

“The counsel can file an application under Section 561 of CrPc to get the verdict on concurrent sentence if the courts for any reason do not clarify whether it’s a concurrent or cumulative sentence,” he said.

Senator Kamran Murtaza commented, “If his appeal is not disposed of in a year or so, his legal team will have to apply for bail under the principle of Section 426 of CrPc.” Senator Kamran Murtaza was asked about Imran Khan’s bail status in the Toshakhana reference case, given that he has been given the maximum sentence allowed by NAB law. However, since that is the maximum penalty, attorneys in that situation never promise an early release on bond. Kamran Murtaza stated that Khan’s appeal will stay in the queue until his turn comes, which may take several months.

Imran Khan’s punishment, according to Senator Ali Zafa, won’t be cumulative. Since both of his sentences will begin at the same time, they will be concurrent.