Former GB CM Khalid Khurshid sentenced to 34 years in prison

Former Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khalid Khurshid, was sentenced to 34 years in prison by a Gilgit Anti-Terrorism Court on Tuesday.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs0.6 million after Khurshid was found guilty of making threats that could lead to serious consequences.

The court proceedings, presided over by Judge Rehmat Shah, concluded with Khurshid’s conviction, despite his absence during the hearings.

The court directed the Inspector General (IG) of Police to arrest Khurshid and transfer him to jail. Additionally, the Director General (DG) of Nadra was ordered to block his identity card.

The charges against Khurshid stemmed from an incident on May 26, 2024, when he allegedly threatened top government officials and security agencies during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest rally.

He was accused of making serious threats to the Chief Secretary and the Chief Election Commissioner of Gilgit-Baltistan, endangering the region’s stability.

This conviction follows another legal issue involving Khurshid. On August 28, 2024, a Gilgit court issued an arrest warrant for his failure to appear in a case regarding a fake degree. The controversy began in July 2023 when the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court disqualified him over the fake degree issue.

Khurshid’s arrest and conviction highlight the growing legal and public scrutiny surrounding political figures in Gilgit-Baltistan, raising concerns about accountability and stability in the region.