#PTI spokesman

[xtruss]

“Pakistan’s Corrupt to their Cores Army Generals, Politicians, Election Commission and Judges” Can Keep Imran Khan Out of Power, but It Can’t Keep His Popularity Down

— By Charlie Campbell | January 17, 2024 | Time Magazine

Supporters of PTI, the Most Popular Political Party of Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, rally against the national election commission’s decision to ban the party’s cricket bat symbol, in Karachi on Jan. 14, 2024. Fareed Khan—AP

It’s not been a great couple of years for Pakistan’s Imran Khan. Since his ouster as Prime Minister in an April 2022 no-confidence vote, the cricketer-turned-politician has been shot, hit with over 180 charges ranging from rioting to terrorism, and jailed in a fetid nine-by-11-foot cell following an Aug. 5 corruption conviction for allegedly selling state gifts. As Pakistan approaches fresh elections on Feb. 8, the 71-year-old’s chances of a comeback appear gossamer thin, despite retaining broad public support.

Pakistan’s military kingmakers are using every trick at their disposal to sideline the nation’s most popular politician and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Over recent months, thousands of PTI workers have been arrested, dozens of party leaders resigned following lengthy interrogations, Khan’s name was banned from mainstream media, and constituency boundary lines were redrawn to allegedly benefit his opponents. Khan’s own nomination papers have also been rejected.

“Elections are being held but I’ve got serious doubts whether real democracy or democratic principles are being followed,” says Samina Yasmeen, director of the Centre for Muslim States and Societies at the University of Western Australia.

And now Khan won’t even have his cricket bat.

On Monday, Khan’s PTI party was banned from using its iconic cricket bat logo on ballot papers, significantly hampering its chances amongst an electorate which is up to 40% illiterate. Most crucially, it effectively bans the PTI as a party and means its candidates will likely have to stand as independents, who will reportedly use a range of symbols ranging from a rollercoaster to a goat. “The election symbol is an integral component of fair elections,” Raoof Hasan, PTI’s principal spokesman and a former special assistant to Khan, tells TIME. “It’s rendering the party toothless.”

Pakistani lawmakers are constitutionally obliged to vote along party lines for certain key matters, including the leader of the house and financial legislation. But if PTI-backed candidates are officially independents, they are under no such constraints, making it much easier for the opposition to cobble together a coalition by targeting individuals with inducements. Additionally, PTI will be ineligible to receive its rightful proportion of the 200-odd parliamentary “reserved seats” for women and minorities that are allocated according to a party’s proportion of the overall vote, which would instead be divvied out to the other registered parties.

Imran Khan Waves a Cricket Bat, the Election Symbol of His Pakistan’s Most Popular PTI Party, during a rally in Faisalabad on May 5, 2013. Daniel Berehulak—Getty Images

Then again, even registering as independents has not been easy for the PTI. Each candidate must file their nomination in the constituency where they intend to stand, but PTI’s candidates frequently find their nomination papers snatched from their hands by shadowy security personnel. To avoid this, the PTI has taken to dispatching several candidates with nomination papers in the hope that one might break through the security cordon.

But even if one does manage to submit papers, each candidate requires a proposer and seconder to attend the nomination in person. On many occasions, a PTI candidate has presented his papers only to find either or both has abruptly been “kidnapped,” says Hasan, meaning that an alleged 90% of its candidates’ nomination papers have been rejected. “This is massive pre-poll rigging.”

The hurdles facing Khan and PTI stand in stark contrast to the lot dealt to Nawaz Sharif, three-time former Prime Minister, who was most recently ousted for corruption in 2017 and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. In 2018, Sharif traveled to London on bail for medical treatment but absconded and remained a fugitive in exile. But on Oct. 21, an apparently healthy Sharif returned to Pakistan, where his corruption conviction was swiftly quashed and last week his lifetime ban from politics also overturned. On Monday, Sharif, 74, launched his campaign to return as Prime Minister for a fourth time—much to the chagrin of disenfranchised PTI supporters.

“The temperature is going to rise in the next few weeks when candidates step out to do rallies,” Khan’s sister, Aleema, tells TIME. “There’s going to be anger on the streets.”

It’s no secret that Pakistan’s military kingmakers have thrown their support behind Sharif, which ultimately means he’s a shoo-in to return to power. But Khan’s enduring popularity means more heavy-handed tactics will be required. Despite all PTI’s headwinds, and extremely patchy governance record while in power, a Gallup opinion poll from December shows the imprisoned Khan’s approval ratings stand at 57%, compared to 52% for Sharif. PTI remains confident that they will win if allowed to compete in a fair fight.

“People, especially at the grassroot level, are very pro-Imran Khan,” says Yasmeen. “Even if he tells them to vote for a piece of furniture, it will be elected.”

Corrupt to His Core, Thief, Looter, Traitor, Money Launderer, Morally Bankrupted Boak Bollocks and Pakistan Army’s Production Pakistan's Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses his supporters in Lahore on Oct. 21, 2023. Aamir Qureshi—AFP/Getty Images

A big question is why the international community has been so muted in the face of such brazen irregularities—especially the U.S., which under the Joe Biden administration claims to have made democracy promotion a key foreign policy priority. The stakes are high; nuclear-armed Pakistan is drowning in $140 billion of external debt, while ordinary people are battling with Asia’s highest inflation, with food prices rising 38.5% year-on-year.

The truth is that Khan has few friends in the West after prioritizing relations with Russia and China. “From a Washington perspective, anyone would be better than Khan,” says Michael Kugelman, the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.

Sharif, by contrast, is perceived as business-friendly and pro-America. Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Washington’s foreign policy priorities have shifted to China, Ukraine, and now Gaza. Yet the importance of a trusted partner in Islamabad was made plain this week following an Iranian airstrike on alleged Sunni militants in Pakistan territory that killed at least two children and threatens a further escalation of the violence already roiling the Middle East.

American priorities in Pakistan are keeping a lid on terrorism and stabilizing relations with arch-nemesis India—and Sharif has a better record on both. However, these priorities aren’t necessarily shared by Pakistan’s military overlords, who may be backing Sharif today but have engineered his ouster thrice in the past—once via a coup d’état. There remains “a lot of bad blood between Nawaz and the military,” says Kugelman, “even if he were to become the next Prime Minister, civil-military relations could take the same turn for the worse.”

After all, no Pakistan Prime Minister has ever completed a full term—and if Sharif gets back in, few would bet on him becoming the first at the fourth time of asking. It may be part of the reason why Khan has adopted a stoic disposition despite the deprivations of his prison cell. “He is cold in jail but quite happy,” says Aleema Khan. “He’s read so many books, maybe two to three every day, and he’s very content to have this retreat time—spiritually, mentally, and physically, he says he feels better.”

Perhaps content in the knowledge that, while February’s election may be beyond hope, in Pakistan you may be down, but you’re never truly out. And that’s all the more reason to keep fighting. “We shall be in the election,” says Hasan. “We’re not going to back off, we’re not going to walk away, we’re not going to forfeit even a single seat throughout the country.”

[usafphantom2]

Mega exercise of the Indian Navy brings together 35 fighter planes, two aircraft carriers and submarines

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 11/06/2023 - 12:28in Military

The Indian Navy recently performed a mega exercise in the Arabian Sea, demonstrating its combat prowess with two aircraft carriers, several warships, submarines and more than 35 combat aircraft.

According to PTI, the aircraft carriers - INS Vikramaditya and the newly inaugurated INS Vikrant - were central parts of the operation.

Meanwhile, Indian Navy spokesman Commander Vivek Madhwal reported on the exercise on Twitter: "The perfect operational integration of the two aircraft carriers... Indian Ocean and beyond."

After the introduction of INS Vikrant in September, this was the first mega exercise of the fleet involving the two aircraft carriers.

Madhwal shared a video of the naval mega fleet and said it demonstrated the "formidable ability of the Indian Navy to ensure sustained air operations throughout the vast maritime expanse and emphasizing our commitment to protecting India's national interests".

The exercise, which was a Carrier Battle Group (aircraft carrier battle group) with the two aircraft carriers, included aircraft such as the MiG-29K and helicopters such as the MH-60R Seahawk, Kamov, Sea King, Chetak and ALH.

Officials told the PTI that almost all air assets were operated by the two aircraft carriers, which functioned as mobile bases.

"In addition, they (aircraft carriers) provide our friends with a guarantee... the Indian Navy is capable and ready to support our 'collective' security needs in the region," Madhwal said.

The exercise was carried out at a time when China is increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean.

Tags: Military AviationIndian Navyaircraft carriers

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

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[warningsine]

Violent clashes have broken out in Pakistan between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan after he was arrested on Tuesday.

Protests are erupting nationwide, and at least one person has been killed in the city of Quetta.

The United States and UK have called for adherence to the "rule of law".

Mr Khan was arrested by security forces at the High Court in the capital, Islamabad.

Dramatic footage showed dozens of officers arriving and detaining the 70-year-old, who was bundled into a vehicle and driven away.

He was appearing in court on charges of corruption, which he says are politically motivated.

Mobile data services in the country were suspended on the instructions of the interior ministry on Friday as protests grew, many of them taking place in front of army compounds.

Pakistan's army plays a prominent role in politics, sometimes seizing power in military coups, and, on other occasions, pulling levers behind the scenes.

Many analysts believe Mr Khan's election win in 2018 happened with the help of the military. Now in opposition, he is one of its most vocal critics, and analysts say the army's popularity has fallen.

Footage from Lahore posted on Twitter appeared to show a crowd breaking into the military corps commander's house destroying furniture and belongings inside.

Speaking from Washington, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he wanted to make sure that "whatever happens in Pakistan is consistent with the rule of law, with the constitution".

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking alongside Blinken, noted that Britain enjoyed "a longstanding and close relationship" with Commonwealth member Pakistan, and wanted to "see the rule of law adhered to".

On Tuesday evening, supporters of Imran Khan gathered outside the Pakistan High Commission in London to protest against his arrest.

'Chaos and anarchy'

Mr Khan was ousted as PM in April last year and has been campaigning for early elections since then.

General elections are due to be held later this year.

Speaking to the BBC's Newshour, Mr Khan's spokesman, Raoof Hasan, said he expected "the worst" and that the arrest could plunge the country "into chaos and anarchy".

"We're facing multiple crises. There is an economic crisis, there is a political crisis, there is a cost of livelihood crisis and consequently this occasion will be a catharsis for them to step out and I fear a fair amount of violence is going to be back," he said.

A member of Mr Khan's legal team, Raja Mateen, said undue force had been used against him at the court.

"Mr Khan went into the biometric office for the biometrics. The rangers went there, they broke the windows, they hit Mr Khan on the head with a baton," said Mr Mateen.

Mr Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party called on its supporters to protest. In the hours after he was detained, violence was reported from cities including Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar.

On the streets of Islamabad, hundreds of protesters blocked one of the main highways in and out of the capital.

People pulled down street signs and parts of overpasses, lit fires and threw stones. During the hour or so that the BBC was there, no police or authorities were visible.

Protesters said they were angry about Imran Khan's arrest.

"This is absolutely the last straw," said Farida Roedad.

"Let there be anarchy, let there be chaos. If there is no Imran, there's nothing left in Pakistan. No one is there to take over."

Writing on social media, police in Islamabad said five police officers had been injured and 43 protesters arrested.

It said at least 10 people, including six police officers, had been injured in the south-western city of Quetta in clashes between Mr Khan's supporters and security forces - with one protester killed.

A statement from the inspector general of Punjab police said the arrest of Mr Khan had been ordered because he was accused of "corruption and corrupt practices".

The case involves allegations over the allotment of land in the so-called Al-Qadir Trust, which is owned by Mr Khan and his wife, Dawn newspaper reported.

Mr Khan, who is being held at an undisclosed location, denies breaking any law.

In a video message filmed as he travelled to Islamabad - and released by the PTI before his arrest - Mr Khan said he was ready for what lay ahead.

"Come to me with warrants, my lawyers will be there," he said. "If you want to send me to jail, I am prepared for it."

Security was tight in the centre of the capital for the former PM's court appearance.

Dozens of cases have been brought against Mr Khan since he was ousted from power.

The security forces have tried to detain him on a number of previous occasions at his Lahore residence, but were blocked by his supporters, resulting in fierce clashes.

On Tuesday, police had blocked roads into Islamabad, so the number of supporters with Imran Khan was not as high as on previous occasions, making it easier to arrest him.

He was elected prime minister in 2018, but fell out with Pakistan's powerful army. After a series of defections, he lost his majority in parliament. He was ousted after he lost a confidence vote in April 2022, four years into his tenure.

Since then, he has been a vocal critic of the government and the country's army.

In October, he was disqualified from holding public office, accused of incorrectly declaring details of presents from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale.

The next month, he survived a gun attack on his convoy while holding a protest march.

On Monday, the military warned him against making "baseless allegations" after he again accused a senior officer of plotting to kill him.

[shahananasrin-blog]

[ad_1] ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Wednesday said it fully supported the constitutional demand of the country’s legal fraternity to hold the general elections within the stipulated 90 days. In a statement, the party spokesman reiterated that free, fair, transparent and timely polls was the sole solution to the current political and economic problems and emphasized that the President Dr Arif Alvi should exercise his constitutional power and announce the polls date without any further delay.The nation, he claimed, had already rejected the efforts of the ECP to suspend the Constitution and delay the polls under the pretext of conducting fresh delimitation of constituencies.The PTI spokesman contended that there was a complete national consensus on holding elections within 90 days after the premature dissolution of assemblies. He said the Supreme Court (SC) gave a very clear and unambiguous interpretation of the related article of the Constitution, which was 90 days in case of dissolution of the assemblies. The legal experts, he pointed out, adopted a consensus approach toward the authority of the President under the Constitution to determine the date of the elections. He added that the entire nation strongly rejected the efforts of the electoral body to suspend the Constitution and delay the polls under the guise of conduct new delimitations. The spokesman argued that partial or total suspension of the Constitution fell in the category of high-treason under Article 6 and the Constitution itself determined the punishment in this regard. He stated that the caretaker government and the electoral watchdog should only focus on ensuring holding free, fair and impartial elections on the date set by the president instead of fueling further the internal chaos and anarchy through unconstitutional actions.Meanwhile, he termed PTI Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s arrest brutal and condemnable and a formal attack on the judiciary. He requested the chief justice of Pakistan to take emergency notice to protect the basic structure of the Constitution and the dignity and independence of the judiciary. [ad_2]

[onestatebusinessnews]

Pakistan court suspends ex-PM Imran Khan’s conviction in state gifts case

The Islamabad High Court suspends Khan’s three-year jail sentence on corruption charges and orders his release on bail.

Islamabad, Pakistan – A Pakistani court has suspended the conviction and three-year prison sentence of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the state gifts depository case.

The two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered Khan’s release on bail.

Khan, 70, was convicted on August 5 by a trial court for not declaring the assets he made from selling the gifts he received from foreign governments and leaders during his premiership between 2018 and 2022.

The cricketer-turned-politician, who is facing more than 100 cases since he lost a confidence vote in the parliament in April 2022, is jailed in the northwestern Attock city, about 88km (54 miles) from Islamabad.

Khan was also barred by the country’s election commission from contesting elections for five years following his imprisonment.

Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, spokesman for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, hailed the court’s decision and demanded his immediate release, saying no “misadventure” should now take place.

“We are extremely happy and overjoyed that Khan got the bail and has been ordered to be released. His safety and bringing him back home is our number one priority,” Bukhari told Al Jazeera.

“Our only concern is to get him home safely and that no misadventure is tried by the authorities outside Attock prison. If something like that happens, it will only further weaken the judicial system and rule of law in the country.”

The PTI official said the party would have liked if Khan was given a “complete acquittal” by the court, but added that he was confident the Supreme Court will grant that relief.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif slammed the Islamabad court’s order, saying Khan’s conviction was only “suspended” and not “terminated”.

“When everyone knows what the decision will be before it is announced, it should be a matter of concern for the justice system. If a clear message is delivered by a higher court, what other choice does a subordinate court have,” Sharif wrote in Urdu on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The IHC’s decision came days after Pakistan’s Supreme Court observed that the trial court verdict had “procedural defects”.

Earlier on Tuesday, PTI filed a plea before the IHC, seeking a ban on authorities rearresting Khan.

On Monday, the PTI chief was given more relief by a court in Balochistan province which quashed a sedition case against him.

However, despite the two court orders, Khan’s legal woes are expected to continue.

Last week, an antiterrorism court in Lahore allowed the police to detain and interrogate Khan in connection with the violence that erupted following the opposition leader’s brief detention in May this year.

The government alleged PTI workers were behind the violence and launched a severe crackdown, arresting thousands of PTI leaders and supporters.

Khan repeatedly rejected the allegations, saying the government was trying to prevent him from contesting the general elections.

Pakistan was scheduled to hold elections by November. But they look unlikely this year as the election commission is busy redrawing constituencies according to the latest census.

[oceansoulmatesblog]

Pakistan police arrest vice-chairman of jailed ex-PM Khan's party

AFP, Saturday 19 Aug 2023 The vice-chairman of jailed Pakistani former prime minister Imran Khan’s party was arrested on Saturday, a spokesman said, part of a widening crackdown on the former ruling party. Pro-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party lawyers shout slogans during a protest rally against the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Muzaffarabad, the capital of…

[beardedmrbean]

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan is facing harsh prison conditions, his legal team said on Monday.

Khan was handed a three-year jail sentence on Saturday for failing to declare state gifts he received while in power. The ruling disqualifies him from running for office, with general elections due for later this year.

The former prime minister has faced more than 200 legal cases against him since he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022.

What did Khan's legal team say?

Khan's spokesman for legal affairs, Naeem Haider Panjutha, told reporters that he is the only person who was allowed to meet Khan since his arrest.

Panjutha said that Khan told him during the visit: "I'm being treated as if I were a terrorist."

The spokesman said that Khan was put in a small, dark jail cell with an open toilet.

He said that the only facility in the cell was a fan.

"His morale is high and he will continue the fight for the rule of law at any cost," the spokesman said.

"He is being held in deplorable conditions not fit for any human, but he is in good spirits," Khan spokesman Raoof Hasan told the Agence-France Presse (AFP) news agency.

"He said to 'tell the people that I will not compromise on my principles.'"

Khan braces for the worst

Panjutha said that Khan's legal team would file an appeal against the court order on Tuesday.

He said the former prime minister was ready to face even harsher conditions.

Khan's legal team asked the Islamabad High Court for better facilities that include a table, chair, TV, mattress, personal bedding, clothing, and food.

His lawyers also asked for Khan to be granted permission to meet his wife, legal team and senior members of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

[wordexpress]

Dozens Of Imran Khan Supporters Arrested By Pak Police

Supporters of Imran Khan's party clashed with police in the city of Lahore last week as they attempted to arrest him at his home, and later with police in Islamabad as he arrived to appear before a court on Saturday.

Islamabad: Police in Pakistan have arrested dozens of supporters and aides of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in raids in two cities as part of a crackdown on those involved in recent clashes with the security forces, Mr Khan's party and police said on Monday.

Supporters of Mr Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), clashed with police in the city of Lahore last week as they attempted to arrest him at his home, and later with police in Islamabad as he arrived to appear before a court on Saturday.

"Around 285 PTI supporters have been arrested in Lahore and Islamabad. Houses of all major leaders were raided by police last night," Mr Khan's aide, Fawad Chaudhry, told Reuters.

Mr Khan, a former cricket star, was prime minister from 2018 until 2022, when he was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote. Since then he has been demanding a snap election and holding protest rallies across the country to press his case.

His successor as prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has rejected his demand and said an election would be held as scheduled later this year.

Mr Khan, 70, is facing several legal cases, including one that prompted a failed attempt to arrest him on Tuesday after a court issued warrants for his arrest for not appearing before it.

Clashes between Mr Khan's supporters and the security forces have brought a new round of political chaos to Pakistan, which is in the midst of a crippling economic crisis.

Mr Khan says the government and the powerful military are trying to stop him from contesting the next election, scheduled for November. If convicted in a case, Mr Khan could face disqualification from the polls.

Both the government and military deny this.

Police in both Lahore and Islamabad confirmed the raids and the arrest of PTI workers they said were involved in clashes with police and arson.

"Police are raiding the houses because seven cases on various charges, including terrorism, have been registered against the leaders and workers," Lahore police chief Bilal Kamiana told Reuters referring to the clashes with police.

He said 125 activists had been arrested in Lahore, including some last week.

In Islamabad, a police spokesman 198 PTI supporters had been arrested in connection with arson and attacks on police in which 58 people were injured and more than a dozen vehicles, including some police cars, were set ablaze.

More raids were being carried out, the spokesman said.

He said police had also gone to the home of a sitting PTI senator, Shibli Faraz, with a search warrant, but the senator was not home.

Mr Khan, remembered by many for his success as a cricket player and later for his charity work, won considerable support among sections of the electorate with his conservative, nationalistic policies.

[gadgetsforusesblog]

Click to read # Who controls Manish Sisodia's Twitter, BJP said, please block the account. Delhi BJP News BJP leader Tejinder Bagga asks Twitter CEO Elon Musk to hit block button on Manis Sisodia's handle

On this tweet from Sisodia, BJP also opened a front and demanded that his Twitter account be closed. Delhi BJP spokesman Tejinder Bagga has increased Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s demand to block his account. There is a lot of controversy going on in the social media about this whole issue. Former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia Image Credit source: PTI Delhi is claimed excise policy…

[don-lichterman]

CCI's Decision On Android A Setback For Indian Users And Businesses, Says Google

CCI’s Decision On Android A Setback For Indian Users And Businesses, Says Google

Google on Friday said the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) order on Thursday is a “major setback” for businesses and consumers, the PTI reported. The US tech giant said that it will expose users to “serious security risks” and raise the cost of mobile devices. Google said it would review the CCI decision to evaluate its course of action. According to the report, a Google spokesman on…

[weaajkal]

فواد چودھری وزیر اطلاعات بنیں، پی ٹی آئی ترجمان نہیں، مریم اورنگزیب #Islamabad #maryamaurangzeb #PMLN #FawadChaudhary #Informationminister #Wednesday #WellnessWednesday #WayBackWednesday #WisdomWednesday #aajkalpk اسلام آباد : پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کی ترجمان اور سابق وزیر اطلاعات مریم اورنگزیب کا کہنا تھا کہ فواد چودھری وزیر اطلاعات بنیں، تحریک انصاف کے ترجمان نہیں، دوسروں کے منصوبوں پر اپنے نام کی تختی نہ لگائیں، نئے منصوبے لے کر آئیں،جن کا عوام سے آپ نے وعدہ کیا ہے،حکومتی بیانات سے لگتا ہے عوام کو ایک کروڑ نوکریاں اور پچاس لاکھ گھر گوگل پر تلاش کرنے پڑیں گے، پیمرا کی تشکیل نو کسی کی خواہش پر نہیں ،آئینی و قانونی طریقہ کار سے ہی ہو سکتی ہے، میڈیا کی آزادی سلب کرنے کیلئے مزید کوئی کالا قانون نہیں لانے دیں گے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ شریف خاندان کیخلاف سیاست کرنے سے عوام کو ایک کروڑ نوکریاں اور پچاس لاکھ گھر نہیں مل سکتے، سینیٹ کے معزز ایوان اور کنٹینر پر کھڑے ہوکر بولنے کے فرق کو سمجھیں۔ان کا کہناتھا کہ مریم نواز کے بارے میں آپ کا بیان ایسے ہی ہے جیسے عمران صاحب 55روپے میں بنی گالا سے وزیراعظم آفس آتے ہیں۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ فواد چودھری صاحب پی ٹی وی پارلیمنٹ کا مئی 2018 میں افتتاح ہو چکا ہے جس کے ذریعے آج آپ کی آواز عوام تک پہنچ رہی ہے اس کا دوبارہ افتتاح کرنے کی ضرورت نہیں ،دوسروں کے منصوبوں پر اپنے نام کی تختی نہ لگائیں، نئے منصوبے لائیں،جن کا عوام سے آپ نے وعدہ کیا ہے۔ مریم اورنگزیب نے کہا کہ حکومتی بیانات سے لگ رہا ہے کہ عوام کو ایک کروڑ نوکریاں اور پچاس لاکھ گھر گوگل پر تلاش کرنے پڑیں گے۔انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ پیمرا کی تشکیل نو کسی کی خواہش پر نہیں بلکہ آئینی و قانونی طریقہ کار سے ہی ہو سکتی ہے۔ترجمان (ن) لیگ نے کہا کہ میڈیا کی آزادی سلب کرنے کیلئے مزید کوئی کالا قانون نہیں لانے دیں گے،اعلانات اور دعوؤں سے پہلے بہتر ہوگا کہ آئین و قانون کا مطالعہ کرلیں تاکہ بعد میں شرمندگی نہ ہو۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ فواد صاحب اکیسویں صدی کے گوئیبلز نہ بنیں،گزشتہ دس دن میں ریاستی اور حکومتی امور کیساتھ ہونیوالے مسخرہ پن اور جگ ہنسائی پر عوام حیران و پریشان ہیں۔

[xtruss]

Pakistan’s Elections Are Being Brazenly Rigged By the Corrupt $$$ Army Generals Who Loves To Lick The Incurable Cancerous Swelled Scrotums of The United States. Why Doesn’t the U.S. Seem to Care?

— Time Magazine | BY Charlie Campbell | February 5, 2024

The One & Only AND The Legend of Legends Imran Khan! Former Illegally Ousted Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chairman of Pakistan’s Most Popular Party PTI.

For a man staring down the barrel of a 10-year jail sentence, Imran Khan was oddly nonchalant in court last Tuesday. As his representatives argued passionately for a fair hearing, Pakistan’s ex-Prime Minister retrieved his eyeglasses, unfolded a newspaper, and did his utmost to ignore the surrounding commotion.

“At one point he looks up and says, ‘Oh, I don’t need to listen to this, it’s a fixed match, I know what the result is going to be,’” Khan’s sister, Aleema, tells TIME. “‘So why are all of you wasting your time?’”

It’s not a difficult conclusion to draw. Khan’s trial for allegedly leaking state secrets was conducted in camera inside a makeshift courtroom within a jail complex, with public and media banned. Khan’s own defense team were blocked from taking part, with the judge appointing two state-employed colleagues of the prosecution to represent the former national cricket captain instead. “When they gave the sentence, he said, ‘Oh, it’s only 10 years? I thought it would be 15,’” says Aleema. “So he’s laughing through the whole thing.”

The case heard one of more than 180 separate charges Khan, 71, currently faces and that have rendered a return to power nigh impossible for Pakistan’s most popular politician. He was back in court on Thursday on separate corruption charges related to the transfer of land for a charitable university he founded. On Saturday, he was sentenced to an additional seven years for having an “un-Islamic marriage.” “It’s becoming such a joke,” says Aleema.

But few in Pakistan are laughing as the nuclear-armed nation of 240 million stumbles towards general elections on Feb. 8. The legal onslaught on Khan dovetails with a broader purge of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which has seen thousands of workers arrested, dozens of its leaders quit under duress, its famed cricket-bat logo banned, and constituency boundary lines redrawn to allegedly benefit its opponents. Khan’s name has been scrubbed from mainstream media and his own nomination papers rejected. “Of course, there is no level playing field and no way this election can be seen as ‘free and fair,’” says Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director for Human Rights Watch.

The obvious question is why a U.S. whose President has called democracy promotion overseas “the defining challenge of our time” has not taken a stronger stance to condemn such shenanigans. When asked at a press briefing Wednesday about attempts to muzzle the PTI, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller cut the question short, saying he couldn’t comment on the specific report because “I haven’t seen it,” before issuing the bromide “we want to see free and fair elections take place in Pakistan.”

Pakistan is, after all, a U.S. treaty ally (albeit one whose interests have not always aligned on security matters, to put it mildly.) America remains its top export destination and a key source of aid, thus retaining significant influence. A power vacuum and popular unrest serves nobody’s interests at a time when the U.S. is desperately trying to stop Israel’s war against Hamas from spilling into a broader regional conflict.

In truth, American reticence is both personality-driven and structural. Khan retained an oddly chummy relationship with the overtly Islamophobic Donald Trump, but he proved no friend to Joe Biden, fuming over the President’s failure to call him following his 2020 election victory and ranting about a U.S.-sponsored plot to oust him. (The case regarding leaking state secrets relates to allegations Khan released a confidential diplomatic cypher that he tenuously claims proves Washington pulled the strings of his ouster in an April 2022 no-confidence vote.)

American engagement in Pakistan boils down to wanting the South Asian nation to keep a lid on Islamic terrorism and stabilize relations with its historic nemesis India—and Khan’s record is poor on both. On his watch, deaths from terrorism soared dramatically while Pakistan also ranked as the world’s fifth most dangerous country for journalists. Regarding relations with New Delhi, Khan called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “racist” and “Hindu supremacist” and raised the prospect of war over disputed Kashmir. More egregiously, Khan shamelessly cozied up to both Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

But the bigger issue for the U.S. is structural. Ultimately, it doesn’t much matter who holds political office in Pakistan because true power lies with its military, which has ruled the nation for over half its history and today acts as kingmaker. As one former top U.S. diplomat in Islamabad tells TIME: “When we had a [crisis], we didn’t call the prime minister—we called the Chief of Army Staff.”

General Asim Munir occupies that rarified post today, and it is he who has orchestrated Khan’s downfall after the two fell out spectacularly over military appointments and other bugbears—not least the ransacking of military properties by PTI supporters on May 9. It was also Munir’s decision to bring back three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from exile, quash his corruption conviction, repeal his lifetime ban from politics, and pave the way for a historic fourth stint in power. But as no Pakistani Prime Minister has ever completed a full term, few are betting on Shariff staying around long. Relations with Pakistan’s top brass take precedence. Tellingly, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted Munir in Washington in December.

“Given that Nawaz’s three terms in power ended with a fall out with the military, we can expect the same will happen this time around,” says Madiha Afzal, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution.

In the near term, however, from the U.S. perspective Sharif is a safe, predictable pair of hands who won’t rock the boat with India. “The State Department seems to be quite comfortable with Nawaz Sharif,” says Tariq Amin-Khan, a politics professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. But Sharif’s record on the economy is poor and reputation for graft “really quite legendary,” adds Amin-Khan. Since the turn of the millennium, per capita GDP in Pakistan has risen by an average of just 1% annually. In 2000, the average Pakistani was some 50% richer than his Indian counterpart; today, they are 25% poorer. Headline inflation rose to 29.7% year-over-year in December owing to tax hikes and a sharp fall in the currency.

“Having been prime minister for more time than anyone else since 1990, [Sharif] must take a fair share of blame for Pakistan’s poor economic performance over this period,” writes Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist for Capital Economics, in a briefing note. Despite his spotty diplomatic and security record, growth under Khan averaged at 6% for his last two years in office, despite headwinds such as the pandemic.

The risk is that a spiraling economy overseen by a government that lacks broad popular support would set the stage for significant social unrest—chances of which would be amplified by interference with the actual voting process. The PTI is refusing to give up and has managed to register candidates for the vast majority of constituencies. With the PTI logo banned, the party has set up an online portal to show supporters which officially independent candidate has its backing. “Give me a free and fair election and I think we will run away with three-quarters [of seats] if not more,” says Raoof Hasan, PTI’s principal spokesman and a former special assistant to Khan.

Various opinion polls put Khan’s popularity at around 60% to 80% and the threat of a strong showing from his supporters may prompt the military to take more decisive action to hobble them. “The election as it is set up is already not free nor fair,” says Afzal. “The only question, in my view, is if there is overt rigging on election day.”

Street violence and any security response would, above all, make it more difficult to secure another IMF bailout—one deemed essential to avoid default and potential economic collapse. “My greatest fear is that this election is going to be called out for being a sham,” says Anita Weiss, a professor of international studies at the University of Oregon. “And there will be riots all over Pakistan that it can barely endure because of the severe economic crisis.”

As such, the Biden Administration may yet regret not taking a stronger stance to protect the democratic values it claims to hold so dear. “It would likely not have changed the overall direction of what’s happening,” says Afzal. “[But] Washington voicing concern would have given Pakistan’s military establishment pause, and perhaps softened the extent of the crackdown.”

[abdulrehman9-blog]

Accountability

Opposition Jailed in Pakistan:  Across-the-Board Accountability or Military-Backed Victimization? (By Abdul Rehman, a freelance writer from Pakistan)

Pakistan’s ex-prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has recently been arrested, or re-arrested to be precise, in a new graft case from the jail where he was serving a jail term. Although the NAB references against him were being framed since the beginning of General Musharraf era, the drive picked up after the famous Panama Leaks. He was first removed from the office of Prime Minister and then was convicted and arrested before the general elections along with her daughter. But after the suspension of that verdict, he was soon convicted and arrested in Al-Azizia case, whose jail term he is still going through with his bail plea denied and appeal pended. [1]

His dauther Maryam Nawaz Sharif was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in early August on account of graft charges. This was not the first time she has faced detention in the recent past. Earlier on, she was convicted by an accountability court before the general elections last year and was arrested on her arrival in Pakistan, but was released later after suspension of the verdict by Islamabad High Court. [2]

His brother, Mian Shehbaz Sharif, had also been facing all this through the years, but in the recent legal drive he has been parallelly targeted and was arrested in an alleged Ashiana Housing Scheme case, where he is still on bail with the case going on. This volly of the legal cases during the current regime of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is not limited to the Sharif family and has also involved NAB cases against most of the active leaders of the major opposition parties, namely Mian's Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PMLN) and Benazir's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). [3]

Of course the NAB Chairman, along with the much-telecasted spokesmen of the ruling party, call all this unbiased accountability or across-the-board accountability and boast taking the elite people to task, but is it really so, specifically if this campaign of cases starts giving visible one-sided look? [4]

All the major opposition parties do not agree to this claim and have a general consensus that they are being targeted. Mian Nawaz Sharif has repeatedly said that it is victimization in the guise of accountability, which is of course not acceptable. His brother Mian Shehbaz Sharif, who has been more cautious in his word-selection earlier, now explains this recent campaign as emerging from an "unholy alliance" between the ruling PTI and NAB who seem to be working in tandem. [5-6]

Mr Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from PPP, the only and young son of late Benazir, is more expressive and openly declares that the institution of NAB was formulated by Musharraf regime with the actual purpose of "political engineering" or the crooked manipulation of the political field [by the powerful military establishment]. Attributing all this recent campaign of cases to behind-the-scene military masters also, he and Maryam Nawaz are very vocal in calling PM Imran Khan as a "selected PM" or a mere "puppet" very often. Though not being that blunt, most opposition leaders have similar sentiments about the current accountability. [7-8]

Unfortunately, the ground realities are also visibly undermining the credibility of the on-going accountability process. The legal drive is very intense against both the major families of Pakistan politics, namely Sharif family & Benazir family, with a barrage of cases against them, which does give a reflection of Musharraf's dictatorial era. Along with the two families, many of their active, supportive or vocal affiliates are also taking the brunt of these cases and have been jailed recently, causing others to recede to more cautious stances. [9-10]

On the other hand, NAB's treatment of those affiliated with ruling PTI is much different and most of case files against them lie closed. Critical cases against the party itself, including those with allegations of party receiving illegal foreign funding and the party maintaining secret bank accounts, have effectively been pushed under-the-carpet. Case against PM Imran Khan himself for the alleged misuse of official helicopter has also been put to silence. Proofs of undisclosed properties owned by Imran's sister Aleema Khan surfaced and were accepted by her too, but she was allowed to go free, while Maryam Nawaz was sentenced in a similar but lighter case. Similarly, probes against some other major PTI players like Pervez Khattak lie conveniently suspended. [11-15]

Apparantly, all this recent accountability drive against Sharif family was started by surfacing of Panama Leaks, which contained the names of Nawaz's sons as owners of offshore companies. But irony in Panama case is that it contained names of above 400 Pakistanis, yet none of them has even been prosecuted against other than Nawaz Sharif. Some of them, including Zulfi Bukhari and Aleem Khan as an example, are among the close affiliates of Imran Khan himself, but are seemingly enjoying complete immunity from the on-going accountability drive. [16-17]

Other irritating fact about this accountability is its alleged use for horse-trading or switching loyalties, as often complained by opposition. Apparantly, some of the cases are whehemently pursued against some known figures, but are put to pending status if they join, or agree to join, the "favourite" PTI. Information Minster Fidous Aashiq Awan from PPP was facing such charges, which were dropped around the time she joined PTI. More visible is the Nandipur Power Plant case filed against some of the PPP leaders some times back, where the recent verdict absolved the main accused Mr Babar Awan who is now in PTI, while indicted his other fellows. [18-20]

Although all this accountability game is not without the involvement of the courts, yet the major courts have also been showing concern on NABs partial attitude. Last year Supreme Court admonished NAB for having double-standards and being politicized in its treatment of cases, where some are pursued forcefully and others are grossly neglected. In another comment couple of years back Supreme Court had blamed NAB for destroying the country [by its policies]. [21-23]

In some of the cases included in this accountability drive, higher courts have openly criticized NAB for targeting the family of ex-PM. In an earlier Hudaibia Mills reference, Supreme Court did conclude last year that its only motive was to pressurize [blackmail] Sharif family. In another Saaf Paani case against Shehbaz Sharif, Lahore High Court also observed this year that it was selectively made by NAB with mala fide intentions of targeting him. [24-25]

Another disturbing reality in both of the Nawaz's convictions by the Accountability Court verdicts is that no corruption against him could be established and the punishment was on "assets beyond means", a charge which is apparantly preposterous in the case of a long-time wealthy industrialist. Due to this, the verdicts have been duly condemned from within the legal fraternity too, including a Supreme Court judge seeing disparity in accountability decisions. Also important to note is that Interpol, when asked for the repatriation of Nawaz's sons to Pakistan this year, declared the proofs in the case to be "insufficient", and refused to act on them. [26-28]

Involvement of powerful military establishment in these cases has also been often alleged. During July last year, Justice Shaukat Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court openly gave details of him being pressurized by ISI officials for keeping Nawaz Sharif in the jail and the Chief Justice being pressurized to make favourable benches for related cases. This was denied by military spokesman, but recently another case of judiciary manipulation happened when judges on the the major opposition cases got abruptly transferred, while one was allegedly close to the end of case. Additionally, Maryam herself recently released a video evidence showing the accountability court judge who convicted Nawaz Sharif, apparantly admitting that he had been blackmailed [by intelligence] to give guilty verdict against the accused. [29-31]

Another troubling fact of ex-military officials placed at the key posts in NAB has also been highlighted time and again, giving more evidence of the military's dominent role in the accountability process. One of the earlier Chairmen of NAB, who was also a close affiliate of Musharraf, openly admitted that Musharraf used to manipulate the accountability cases being investigated one way or other, as per his [or military's] desires. [32-34]

The alleged hidden coordination between the military-backed ruling PTI and NAB is even verified by some of the statements of their own dignitaries too. Chairman NAB, in a May 2019 interview to an eminent journalist Javed Chaudhry, himself admitted of not arresting government affiliates [during accountability] in order to avoid instability. After an uproar about it from opposition, NAB sposkesman later denied it. But he is not the only one; recently Senior Minister Fawad Chaudhry has also boastingly admitted that it is PTI, and not NAB, who is in control of this accountability drive. [35-36]

A rather disturbing irony of this accountability drive is its contrast with the on-ground data. Global watchdog Transparency International, in its report on the three previous regimes, has concluded that Musharraf's time was the worst in terms of corruption and Nawaz's time was the best, and also that corruption normally drops when PMLN comes to power. But here, in total disregard to all this, maximum thrust of accountability is focused on the same PMLN, while the Musharraf's close affiliates are not only immune to this, but many are enjoying the government positions too. [37-38]

Thus, considering all these hidden painful facts behind the much-touted slogans of unbiased accountability, it can easily be seen that all these are mere beautiful coats on the face of a largely one-sided and bitter persecution or silencing campaign against the political rivals. And thusforth, the government unleashing such campaign against its opponents can only and justifiably be categorized as a military-backed dictatorship, whatever democratic on-the-face name it may possibly be claiming. [39-41]

[1] “Nawaz’ bail plea in Al-Azizia case rejected”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/436706-al-azizia-case-verdict-on-nawaz-bail-plea-today

[2] “Nawaz, Maryam, Capt Safdar released after suspension of Avenfield sentence by IHC”, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1807039/1-ihc-commences-hearing-sharifs-suspension-plea/

[3] “Shahbaz granted bail in Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing, Ramzan Sugar Mills cases”, https://www.dawn.com/news/1463815

[4] “NAB believes in across-the-board accountability”, https://dailytimes.com.pk/166639/nab-believes-across-board-accountability/

[5] “Nawaz slams ‘political victimisation’ disguised as accountability”, https://www.dawn.com/news/1438060

[6] “’NAB and PTI are in an unholy alliance,' Shahbaz says in parliament”, https://www.dawn.com/news/1439586

[7] “NAB was established for political engineering, says Bilawal after interrogation”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/446484-ppp-workers-throng-nab-headquarters-as-bilawal-appears-before-anti-graft-watchdog

[8] “Bilawal calls Imran Khan puppet prime minister, vows to resist govt 'pressure'”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/396828-bilawal-calls-imran-puppet-prime-minister-vows-to-resist-govt-pressure

[9] “Corruption charges against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_charges_against_Benazir_Bhutto_and_Asif_Ali_Zardari

[10] “Former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi arrested in LNG case”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/500227-former-pm-shahid-khaqan-abbasi-may-be-arrested

[11] “PTI foreign funding case: ECP scrutiny panel again fails to make progress”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/416984-pti-foreign-funding-case-ecp-scrutiny-panel-again-fails-to-make-progress

[12] “PTI operating 18 undeclared bank accounts: SBP report”, https://www.dawn.com/news/1456646

[13] “PPP leaders to NAB: where is helicopter case against PM?”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/465178-ppp-leaders-to-nab-where-is-helicopter-case-against-pm

[14] “Aleema Khan given 'Mother of NRO' award by PM Imran: Marriyum Aurangzeb”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/429885-aleema-khan-given-mother-of-nro-award-by-pm-imran-marriyum-aurangzeb

[15] “NAB summons Khattak in land scam probe”, https://thefrontierpost.com/nab-summons-khattak-land-scam-probe/

[16] “Over 400 Pakistanis to be named and shamed in new Panama Papers list”, https://www.geo.tv/latest/104698-Over-400-Pakistanis-to-be-named-and-shamed-in-new-Panama-Papers-list

[17] ” PTI's Aleem Khan, Imran's friend Zulfi Bukhari named in second set of Panama leaks”, http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/335891-PTIs-Aleem-Khan-Imrans-friend-Zulfi-Bukhari-nam

[18] “PPP's Firdous Ashiq Awan joins PTI”, https://www.dawn.com/news/1336332

[19] “NAB drops probe into 14 mega corruption cases”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/222905-NAB-drops-probe-into-14-mega-corruption-cases

[20] “PTI’s Babar Awan acquitted, Raja not, in Nandipur case”, https://dailytimes.com.pk/418766/ptis-babar-awan-acquitted-raja-not-in-nandipur-case/

[21] “Why NAB getting politicised, asks SC”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/384691-why-nab-getting-politicised-asks-sc

[22] “Supreme Court bench slams NAB for its 'double standards'”, https://www.dawn.com/news/1440858/supreme-court-bench-slams-nab-for-its-double-standards

[23] “NAB has destroyed Pakistan, turned nation into a laughing stock: SC”, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1588700/1-nab-destroyed-pakistan-turned-nation-laughing-stock-sc/

[24] “SC’s detailed decision: Hudaibiya seemed a tool to pressurise Sharifs”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/264970-sc-s-detailed-decision-hudaibiya-seemed-a-tool-to-pressurise-sharifs

[25] “Saaf Pani scam: NAB selectively proceeded against two accused”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/429590-saaf-pani-scam-nab-selectively-proceeded-against-two-accused

[26] “No ‘bright evidence’ of corruption found against Nawaz: AC”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/338572-no-bright-evidence-of-corruption-found-against-nawaz-ac

[27] “Strict liability not applied universally, argues Justice Isa”, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1734643/1-strict-liability-not-applied-universally-argues-justice-isa/

[28] “Interpol declines to arrest Hassan Nawaz”, https://nation.com.pk/13-May-2019/interpol-declines-to-arrest-hassan-nawaz

[29] “Pakistan's ISI dictating judiciary, doesn't want Nawaz out of jail, alleges High Court judge”, https://zeenews.india.com/world/pakistans-isi-dictating-judiciary-doesnt-want-nawaz-out-of-jail-alleges-high-court-judge-2126573.html

[30] "ANF court judge stops hearing midway in Rana Sanaullah case after being repatriated to LHC", https://www.dawn.com/news/1502171

[31] “Maryam releases alleged video of Al-Azizia case judge claiming he was 'blackmailed'”, https://www.geo.tv/latest/242386-maryam-releases-alleged-video-of-al-azizia-case-judge-claiming-nawazs-innocence

[32] "Army officers still calling the shots in NAB", https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/113321-army-officers-still-calling-the-shots-in-nab

[33] “Ex-khakis rule the roost in NAB”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/102569-Ex-khakis-rule-the-roost-in-NAB

[34] "Musharraf stopped probes, says ex-chief of NAB", https://www.dawn.com/news/851664

[35] “PML-N demands probe into NAB chief tape leaks”, https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=25_05_2019_001_001

[36] “Fawad credits PTI for accountability; NAB seeks action against minister”, https://www.dawn.com/news/1489544

[37] “Present PML-N govt least corrupt: TI”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/14371-present-pml-n-govt-least-corrupt-ti

[38] “‘Most corrupt govt of last 19 years excluded from PTI govt’s probe’”, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/505942-most-corrupt-govt-of-last-19-years-excluded-from-pti-govt-s-probe

[39] “Imran Khan's first year in office: U-turns and oppression”, https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/imran-khan-year-office-turns-oppression-190726091846779.html

[40] “Pakistan Imprisons Opposition To Silence Dissent”, https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/pakistan-imprisons-opposition-to-silence-dissent/30120923.html

[41] "Glimpse of the face of a fascist regime", https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/07/opinion/glimpse-of-the-actual-face-of-a-fascist-regime/

[warningsine]

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan high court on Tuesday (Aug 29) suspended former prime minister Imran Khan's prison sentence for a graft conviction, his lawyer said, but it was unclear if he would be immediately released.

A spokesman for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said that the Islamabad High Court had overturned a lower court's decision this month to imprison him for three years, a judgement which has barred him from contesting upcoming elections.

His party and lawyers said he was granted bail, but they feared that the 70-year-old would be rearrested over one of the more than 200 cases levelled against him since he was ousted by parliamentary vote in April 2022.

"We have filed a separate application requesting the court pass an order barring the authorities from arresting him in any other case," Gohar Khan, one of the lawyers, told AFP.

"If authorities arrest him in any other case, it will be against his legal rights."

Khan has been in prison for three weeks since a judge found him guilty of failing to properly declare gifts he received while in office.

A special court in Islamabad has ordered prison authorities to keep Khan in judicial custody and present him before the court on Wednesday, according to an undated order seen by Reuters.

A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official, who requested anonymity, said Khan was charged with making public the contents of a confidential cable sent by Pakistan's ambassador to the United States and using it for political gain.

Khan's top aide, former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has already been arrested in the same case.

Khan alleges that the cable proves that his removal was at the behest of the United States, which he said pressed Pakistan's military to topple his government because he had visited Russia shortly before its attack on Ukraine.

Both the United States and the Pakistani military have denied that.

Anticipating his release, Khan's legal team said they would head for the Attock jail, a century-old prison around 60km west of the capital, Islamabad.

But political commentator Omar Quraishi told AFP "it remains to be seen if the former prime minister will be released and if so, when", because of the volume of other cases involving Khan.

KHAN BEHIND BARS

The charismatic 70-year-old is Pakistan's most popular politician and claims his ousting and subsequent legal cases have been orchestrated by the powerful military establishment to deny him a second term.

Khan was also briefly jailed on graft charges in May, sparking days of civil unrest, but since then, his PTI party has been targeted by a major crackdown which has vastly diminished his street power and seen most of his senior leadership jump ship or be locked away.

Islamabad said that it was targeted by "anti-state" violence during backlash over that arrest.

But rights groups say authorities used overly broad anti-terror laws to suppress PTI, and the domestic press reported pressure to censor or smear Khan on the airwaves.

While Khan was imprisoned this month, Pakistan's parliament was dissolved at the request of his successor Shehbaz Sharif to pave the way for a caretaker government which will usher in elections in the coming months.

No date for the polls has yet been announced.

Khan, a former cricket star, surged to power in 2018 on a wave of popular support, an anti-corruption manifesto and the backing of the powerful military establishment.

When he was ousted in April last year, analysts said it was because he had lost the support of those same generals who handed him the keys to office.

He was replaced by a shaky coalition of the dynastic parties which have historically ruled Pakistan.

But as an opposition politician, he waged an unprecedented campaign against the influential generals, who have staged at least three successful coups leading to decades of martial law.

Khan's political opponents say that the former prime minister will remain in custody.

"He has been on judicial remand for 15 days, which is expiring tomorrow, and he will be produced for extension of the remand tomorrow in a special court," said Ataullah Tarar, a key aide to former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Khan's camp called for him to be released following Tuesday's suspension of his graft conviction.

"Arresting him in any other case will cause further damage to our national integrity and repute of judicial system," Khan's aide Zulfikar Bukhari posted on messaging platform X.

"Let the innocent be free!" he added.

[shahananasrin-blog]

[ad_1] KARACHI: Pakistani opposition leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi was detained on Saturday, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said, just hours after he said it would challenge any delay to the country's election in the courts. Party spokesman Zulfi Bukhari told Reuters the specific reason for the detention of Qureshi, twice Pakistan's foreign minister, was not immediately clear. The caretaker information minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bukhari condemned the arrest on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying he was "arrested for doing a press conference and re affirming PTI stance against all tyranny and pre poll rigging that is going on currently in Pakistan". PTI party chairman Imran Khan is currently jailed for three years after being convicted on graft charges and is barred from contesting any election for five years. He denies any wrongdoing. Khan won the last election in 2018 and became prime minister until he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022. The election is meant to be held within 90 days of parliament being dissolved last week, by November, but uncertainty looms over the date as the nation grapples with constitutional, political and economic crises. The outgoing government approved a new census in its final days, meaning new electoral boundaries must be drawn up by the Election Commission. The exercise of drawing fresh boundaries for hundreds of federal and provincial constituencies in a country of 241 million people may take six months or more, according to a former commission official. IMF BAILOUT The election commission said on Thursday that new constituencies would be finalised by Dec. 14, state television reported. After that, the commission will confirm an election date. Electoral experts have suggested that process could see the nationwide vote pushed back several months, possibly until February. "It will be unconstitutional if the 90 days deadline is breached," Qureshi, who is leading the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, following Khan's arrest, told the press conference. He said the party planned to contest any delay at the Supreme Court. Political analysts say that if the current caretaker set-up stretches beyond its constitutional tenure, a prolonged period without an elected government would allow the military, which ruled the country directly for more than three decades of its 76-year existence, to consolidate control. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, a little-known politician who is believed to be close to the military, was sworn in as prime minister on Monday. Caretakers are usually limited to overseeing elections, but Kakar's set-up is the most empowered in Pakistan's history thanks to legislation that allows it to make policy decisions on economic matters. The move is ostensibly aimed at keeping on track a nine-month $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout secured in June. At least one of three programme reviews falls during the caretaker period, and more if elections are delayed.!(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) function loadFBEvents(isFBCampaignActive) if (!isFBCampaignActive) return; (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) if (f.fbq) return; n = f.fbq = function() n.callMethod ? n.callMethod(...arguments) : n.queue.push(arguments); ; if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n; n.push = n; n.loaded = !0; n.version = '2.0'; n.queue = []; t = b.createElement(e); t.async = !0; t.defer = !0; t.src = v; s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s); )(f, b, e, ' n, t, s); fbq('init', '593671331875494'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); ; function loadGtagEvents(isGoogleCampaignActive) if (!isGoogleCampaignActive) return; var id = document.getElementById('toi-plus-google-campaign'); if (id) return; (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) t = b.createElement(e); t.async = !0; t.defer = !0; t.src = v; t.id = 'toi-plus-google-campaign'; s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s); )(f, b, e, ' n, t, s); ; window.TimesApps = window.TimesApps )( window, document, 'script', ); [ad_2]

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