DEFIANT KHAN
Khan maintains the cases are politically motivated and designed to keep him from returning to power.
He has been previously convicted four times since he was arrested, two of which have been overturned, while the sentences in the other two cases were suspended.
But he remained in prison over the Al-Qadir Trust case, the longest running against him, and other charges related to inciting protests.
The court’s announcement has been postponed three times, with analysts saying back-room negotiations were being held.
Earlier this month, Khan said in a statement posted by his team on social media that he was “indirectly approached” about the possibility of house arrest at his sprawling home on the outskirts of the capital.
But the 72-year-old has remained defiant, firing off statements railing against the government and promising to fight his battles through the courts.
Analysts say the military are Pakistan’s kingmakers, although the generals deny interfering in politics.
Khan’s popularity continues to undermine a shaky coalition government, that kept PTI from power in elections last year.
Since being ousted from power in 2022, the former cricket star has launched an unprecedented campaign in which he has openly criticised the country’s powerful generals.
A UN panel of experts found last year that Khan’s detention “had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for political office”.
Khan was barred from standing in February’s election and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were hamstrung by a widespread crackdown.
PTI won more seats than any other party in the poll, but a coalition of parties considered more pliable to the influence of the military establishment shut them out of power.
