Imran Juggernaut Halted in Pakistan, Not Yet?

Two court orders on September 22 seems to be a setback for former Pakistan Prime Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan.

Will this halt his political juggernaut which is set to be launched on September 24 with the “Haqeeqi Azaadi” (actual freedom) remains to be seen?

The verdict by the Islamabad High Court and Pakistan Supreme Court delivered separately on the same day may be a setback for Mr Khan who has mobilised public opinion for his campaign to return to governance through early elections. In the process Mr Khan is also taking on the ruling alliance and the Pakistan Army and the ISI – the so called Establishment. How will this pan out remains to be seen?

But first the verdicts

Islamabad High Court Verdict

The case before the Islamabad High Court was contempt of court and threatening a female judge of the lower courts publicly.

Dawn news quoting written order, of the Islamabad High Court stated that the Court observed that Imran, “may have crossed a red line”.

Imran on the other hand said as per the Court order, “He wanted to assure the Hon’ble Judges of this Court that he was willing to clarify before the Hon’ble Judge of the District Court that neither he nor his party sought any action against the Hon’ble Judge of District Court and that he would willingly apologize to the Hon’ble Judge if she felt that the respondent had crossed a line.”

Imran also promised not to repeat the misdemeanours against the court in the future.

Dawn news noted that in view of Imran’s response, the court said that it was “satisfied with the apology rendered by the respondent”. “Let him file an affidavit for consideration of this Court before the next date fixed,” the IHC added.

Taking the stand in the IHC, Mr Khan said, “I am ready to apologise to the female judge”, and added the court.

“The court thinks that I have crossed a line. My intention was not to threaten the female judge. If the court says so, I am ready to personally go to the judge and apologise,” he offered.

“I assure the court that I will not do something like this in the future,” he added. “I am sorry if I have crossed a red line.”

Following this, the IHC CJ said that the court would record the PTI chief’s statement and told Imran to submit an affidavit. “Submit an affidavit detailing what you have said,” the IHC CJ said.

“It is your personal decision as to visit the judge in person,” the IHC bench said. “If you have realised [your] mistake and ready to apologise for it […] that is enough,” the court remarked.

Talking to reporters after the hearing, Imran said that PTI’s movement for “Haqeeqi Azaadi” (true freedom) was against mafias. “I don’t want to fight Pakistan’s judiciary.”

Supreme Court Verdict

The Supreme Court was deciding on the procedure adopted by the National Assembly speaker for accepting the resignations of PTI MNAs found the same above board.

The highest court of law in Pakistan on the other hand advised the PTI to join the National Assembly.

CJP Bandial in fact went further and said that in the recent disaster those affected by floods were in dire situation and foreign countries were coming to help Pakistan.

"You will also have to look at the country's economic situation. Does the PTI have any idea how much it will cost to hold by-elections on 123 seats?" he asked.

Haqeeqi Azadi Movement

Talking to reporters after the hearing, Imran mainly claimed that PTI’s movement for “Haqeeqi Azaadi” (true freedom) was against mafias. “I don’t want to fight Pakistan’s judiciary.”

Earlier announcing the, “Haqeeqi Azaadi” (actual freedom) march he said, “I will give a call and we will get our country liberated in real terms,” in an address at a lawyer’s convention in Lahore.

Will the two verdicts which have led to the PTI eating humble pie make any difference to Mr Khan’s “Haqeeqi Azaadi” (actual freedom) march remains to be seen?

Imran’s Larger Game Plan

Having gained exceptional success in the Punjab Bye Elections which led to installation of a government by the PML Q supported by the PTI, Mr Imran Khan is banking on public support to hold early elections where he hopes to return to power.

Popular support is matched by arrogance not seen in Pakistan politics recently which has led Mr Khan to adopt an aggressive stance taking on the Army and the Judiciary.

While peace seems to have been made with the judiciary for now, he may continue to rant against the military. The Establishment however is likely to hit back as Imran has taken on the powerful establishment of the Army Chief.

Ruling Alliance Failure in Meeting Imran Challenge

While Imran has been holding rallies across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces where the PTI is in power with large attendance, the ruling alliance led by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz with Shahbaz Sharif as the Prime Minister has failed to mobilise the masses against Khan.

Popular support has also led to covering the large scale misgovernance of PTI’s rule in Islamabad.

While when the PTI was in power the IMF tranche was resisted by the government of that time, the reality of deterioration of Pakistan’s economic conditions was ignored and the government then did not provide any alternative.

The PTI has also failed on the governance and the foreign policy front, but with garnering of popular support on the streets with opinion against Army interference in politics and economic hardship he has been able to mobilise support.

The ruling party has also not been able to take advantage of the Toshakhana affair.

As corruption is a major issue of agenda of the Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan, selling of gifts given to him by foreign dignitaries has become an important touch point known as the Toshakhana case.

The case was brought before the electoral watchdog last year after the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) had accepted an application on the matter and had directed the Cabinet Division to provide information about the gifts received by then-prime minister Imran Khan from foreign dignitaries.

PTI chairman's counsel Barrister Ali Zafar admitted to Imran selling at least four presents he had received in 2018-19 from foreign dignitaries. Gifts given to the head of the government are to be deposited in the government safe house known as Toshakhana and cannot be sold for personal profit.

Thus, Mr Khan may be guilty of the same but the Election Commission may not be the right body where this case is to be heard.

Differences within PML N

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is regarded as a good administrator but lacks the charisma of his elder brother Nawaz Sharif to move the masses or PML N Vice President Maryam Sharif.

Observers believe that differences within the Sharif family has led to some disconcert within. Only now Maryam Sharif who can drawn crowds has taken to the public platforms calling on the former Prime Minister and PTI Chair to name the Mr X and Mr Y.

Imran Khan has been alleging from time to time of ‘Mr X’ deputed ‘Mr Y’ to rig the polls and now to topple the Punjab provincial government but the people would thwart all such efforts.

Khan who claims that ‘crooks’ had been imposed on the country after a US-backed conspiracy and local abettors.

Imran calls the present government as imported and is being threatened through different tactics to demoralize them as he vowed to never accept the ‘cabal of crooks’ irrespective of how many FIRs are lodged against him or other pressure tactics are used.

The Mr X and Mr Y referred to by Mr Khan are the Establishment or the Army and the ISI whose huge role in politics is well known and Imran claims he is leading a crusade to undermine the military.

Flood or Disaster Politics

Flood or disaster politics is continuing in Pakistan in the worst of times when the political class must be united to face the challenge that is coming from the natural catastrophe.

Even during natural calamity, politicians are concerned about their political agenda rather than allowing international aid agencies to import essential food items from the neighbouring country.

Instead of fighting the fallout of the devastating natural calamity united, they are engrossed in tricks and a regressive thought process whether or not to allow aid flow from India.

Some government top officials have suggested importing essential commodities such as food and medicine from India, while others are still the victim of the old rigidities and anti-India mindset. The government and the opposition are running independent flood relief funds campaigns rather than joining hands.

The people are the victims of such callousness.

Conclusion

Under the circumstances, while attempts are being made to block Imran Khan’s political juggernaut largely resting on support of the public of which he has created a mass base, how this will impact his politics remains to be seen?

Above all eyes are on the Pakistan Army, facing a crisis of confidence with the masses for the first time in recent years mainly due to invectives hurled upon indirectly by Mr Khan.

How the military strikes back let’s wait and watch?