Pakistani courts to decide Imran Khan's fate in line with law: US

• Miller says it's something for Pakistani courts to decide.
• He says question about Khan addressed several times
• Ex-PM still imprisoned in iddat case, bailed in cipher case.
  

WASHINGTON: Commenting on former prime minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment, US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller on Monday said it was for the Pakistani courts to decide his fate.

Outlining US position on the court cases, Miller said: "It is our position that when you come to these laws in Pakistan and this court case, it is something for the Pakistani courts to decide."

The US official said this in reply to the question posed by a reporter in context with Khan’s acquittal in cipher case and remaining imprisoned for the iddat case.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday annulled Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s conviction in the infamous cipher case containing charges of misusing and misplacing the classified diplomatic document.

Meanwhile, Khan remains incarcerated under the seven-year sentences handed to him and his wife Bushra Bibi by a trial court on February 3, in the "un-Islamic nikah" case at the Adiala jail. The couple was also fined Rs500,000 each.

A trial court on February 3 handed seven-year sentences, each, to the PTI founder and his wife Bushra Bibi.

Further describing the State Department’s perspective, the spokesperson said, "When we look at different countries, we take into account appropriate context, circumstances in making our judgments."

Miller said US had numerous times addressed the question regarding Khan. “The legal proceedings against him are something for the Pakistani courts to decide (and) I’d say in accordance with their laws and constitution,” he stressed again.