When you mess with dictatorships you get the shaft. Hero of the people will forever be an outlaw in his nation. At least until the tyrants are gone from power. Which may be never. Like Biden in the U.S., Pakistan also tortures political opponents.
Pakistan’s government announced plans to file treason charges against former Prime Minister Imran Khan for allegedly dissolving parliament unlawfully in 2022. The government also aims to ban his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accusing it of receiving illegal foreign funding.
Pakistan’s government says it will ban ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, deepening turmoil https://t.co/SoniJxdLEj pic.twitter.com/zoeQiPTROQ
— Toronto Sun (@TheTorontoSun) July 15, 2024
These moves are likely to escalate the political turmoil that has gripped Pakistan since Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022. Despite numerous criminal cases against him, Khan remains a popular figure and the main rival of current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Khan and his supporters claim the charges are politically motivated.
Khan’s spokesperson, Zulfiqar Bukhari, labeled the government’s actions as desperate, following recent court rulings that overturned previous convictions against Khan. Bukhari described the situation as a “sign of panic” and suggested that the country is under “soft martial law.”
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the government will pursue treason charges against Khan, former President Arif Alvi, and former Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri for their roles in dissolving the National Assembly in April 2022. Tarar also claimed that the government has credible evidence that PTI received funds from overseas, which is illegal under Pakistani law. Additionally, PTI is accused of inciting nationwide riots following Khan’s arrest last year.
The federal government of Pakistan has decided to ban the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan , Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar stated that they are going to impose a ban on PTI, saying that Pakistan and PTI cannot coexist. They… pic.twitter.com/YMpvrabtIX
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) July 15, 2024
The government believes these allegations provide grounds to ban PTI, but any decision will require approval from the Supreme Court.
The announcement came shortly after a court overturned convictions and seven-year sentences given to Khan and his wife, Bibi, related to the legality of their 2018 marriage. Despite their acquittal, Khan was immediately re-arrested on charges connected to last year’s riots.
The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has urged the government to reconsider its decision to ban PTI, warning that it would lead to greater polarization and potential political chaos.
Khan has accused the United States and the Pakistani military of orchestrating his removal, a claim denied by the U.S., Sharif, and the military. After his ouster, violence erupted but subsided following a Supreme Court order for Khan’s release. However, he was arrested again in August 2023 on corruption charges.
Recently, Khan has been acquitted in several cases linked to last year’s violence, but his bail was revoked this week for a pending case in Lahore. In a significant blow to the ruling coalition, the Supreme Court ruled that PTI was improperly denied at least 20 parliamentary seats, bringing its strength in the National Assembly to 106 out of 336 seats. Despite this, PTI still lacks the numbers to challenge the ruling coalition effectively.
Information Minister Tarar also accused Khan of harming diplomatic relations with the U.S. by claiming his ouster was a U.S.-led conspiracy involving the military and his political rivals.
Key Points:
i. Pakistan’s government plans to charge Imran Khan with treason and ban his party, PTI, citing unlawful dissolution of parliament and illegal foreign funding.
ii. The government’s actions are seen as a response to recent court rulings that favored Khan.
iii. Human rights groups warn that banning PTI could lead to increased political instability and violence.
iv. Khan was recently acquitted in several cases but remains under legal pressure with ongoing charges.
v. The Supreme Court ruled that PTI was improperly denied parliamentary seats, strengthening the party but not enough to challenge the ruling coalition.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News