Pakistani Ex-Official Sentenced to 34 Years in Prison for Threatening Security Agencies

A Pakistani ex-official has been sentenced to 34 years in prison and fined for threatening security agencies, marking a significant development in the high-profile case. Khalid Khurshid, the former Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, was found guilty of making threats during a PTI power show in May 2024.

The incident in question took place during a rally by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in May 2024, where Khurshid allegedly made threats against the chief secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, the chief election commissioner, and security agencies. Consequently, he was booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and a case was filed against him. The charges against Khurshid stem from his actions, which were deemed threatening and intimidating in nature.

The case against Khurshid has been ongoing for some time, with the former official failing to appear in court despite receiving multiple notices. He was eventually arrested and brought to justice, resulting in the severe sentence handed down by the anti-terrorism court. The court also imposed a fine of Rs600,000 on Khurshid, in addition to directing the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to block his computerized national identity card.

Khurshid was the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan from 2020 until his disqualification in July 2023. Formerly, he was involved in a series of legal cases related to the PTI protests in Islamabad, adding to the complexity of his situation. The recent sentencing is seen as a significant development in Pakistan's legal landscape, where politicians often face serious charges for their public statements and actions.