ISLAMABAD — On Wednesday, a Pakistani court granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case, as confirmed by his legal counsel. However, due to a number of other ongoing charges, the opposition figure remains in custody.

The bail decision from a higher court in Islamabad represents a positive development for Khan, who, along with his wife, Bushra Bibi, faces allegations of retaining and selling state gifts against governmental regulations during his tenure in power. While Khan was removed from office through a no-confidence vote in parliament back in 2022, he continues to categorically deny these accusations.

The trial related to these graft charges commenced in July and has yet to conclude. Khan is entangled in more than 150 legal cases and has received sentences that add up to a significant duration, including three years, ten years, fourteen years, and seven years, all to be served concurrently under Pakistani law. While some of his convictions have been overturned on appeal, he cannot be released due to other pending legal matters.

Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, remains optimistic about his client’s eventual freedom, yet legal experts caution that there are at least eight outstanding cases that hinder this possibility. Khan has been held in a facility in Rawalpindi for more than a year, maintaining his claim of innocence. He asserts that the legal actions against him are politically motivated efforts to marginalize him and keep him away from public life.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI), which Khan leads, is advocating for his release. Supporters of Khan have organized a rally in Islamabad set for Sunday to call for his liberation, even in the face of a government ban on such gatherings.

According to Pakistani law, government officials and politicians are permitted to retain gifts received from foreign dignitaries. However, they must accurately declare the market value of these gifts and disclose any profits made from their sale.

Last month, Bushra Bibi was also granted bail in the same case, but she is required to attend court hearings alongside her husband.