Imran Khan's Inconvenient 'Corruption' Convictions
The New Arab dutifully reports Imran Khan's latest conviction, a 17-year sentence for graft, hot on the heels of a 14-year term. What's often buried in such reports is the context: Khan's removal from power in April 2022 followed a no-confidence vote, which he claimed was orchestrated by the U.S. for his neutral stance on the Ukraine war – a claim corroborated by a leaked diplomatic cable (The
Intercept, August 2023). This dizzying sequence of legal battles — now nine convictions and over 150 cases against him — conveniently sidelines a populist leader who dared to challenge established western narratives. It's almost poetic how swiftly the wheels of 'anti-corruption' turn when a leader becomes a geopolitical liability. How many former US-allied dictators facing *actual* corruption
charges found their legal processes moving at this breakneck pace? One might ponder if the 'graft' in question was less about stolen jewels and more about defying specific foreign policy directives. Funny, that.