#Pakistani leader Tehreek-e-insaf

[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.”

[beardedmrbean]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan’s main opposition leader and former prime minister, Imran Khan, was arrested Tuesday, authorities said, raising the stakes of the country’s political crisis and sparking clashes between his supporters and police.

Footage showed demonstrations across the country. Tear gas and water cannons were reportedly deployed against Khan supporters in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other cities.

Pakistani authorities said Khan was arrested in a corruption case that has been evolving for months. The former prime minister stands accused of money laundering and faces a number of other charges in separate cases, all of which he has rejected.

Pakistani authorities said they had unsuccessfully sought Khan’s cooperation in the corruption probe. He was subsequently arrested by officers on high court premises in the capital, Islamabad, where he was to attend hearings linked to different cases on Tuesday. Pakistani police battle protesters in attempt to arrest opposition leader

Footage distributed by Khan’s party showed the opposition leader being pushed into a law enforcement vehicle. Officials said the arresting officers — members of a paramilitary force — were operating on a warrant from the country’s anti-corruption watchdog.

They denied accusations from Khan’s allies that the former prime minister was beaten during his arrest. Neither side immediately provided evidence to back its claims.

Members of Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or Movement for Justice, say they suspect political motives behind the arrest. The government has repeatedly sought to delay key regional votes this year after Khan performed above expectations in by-elections last October.

The country’s deteriorating economic situation has become the top concern among many voters, with the current government and Khan trading blame over the root causes of the crisis. Financial experts fear that the country may be on the verge of defaulting on its international loans.

Khan, who was ousted as prime minister in April 2022, was arrested after public disputes with the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s powerful military. Khan recently accused a senior officer of involvement in an assassination attempt against him in November, which he narrowly survived.

Khan has described himself for months as the victim of a plot, starting with what he says was a Western move to oust him last year. There have been several attempts to arrest him since, including one in March that resulted in fierce clashes and left many Pakistanis injured.

As he left his residence in the city of Lahore to attend the scheduled court hearings in Islamabad early Tuesday, Khan released a video message in which he said he is “ready to go to jail,” but added that the accusations against him are unsubstantiated.

Later, in a response to Khan on Twitter, Sharif, the prime minister, accused his predecessor of “blatant lies, untruths, U-turns, and vicious attacks on institutions.” He charged that Khan was bending “the judiciary to your whims and behaving as if rules don’t apply to you.”

[globalnewss]

President of Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan's party arrested in Lahore

ISLAMABAD: The president of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan’s party was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore on Thursday, local channel Geo News said.Pervez Elahi joins a long list of key leaders from the party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, to be arrested in recent weeks in a countrywide crackdown.Khan’s own arrest on May 9 sparked widespread protests, raising fresh worries about…

[newsbrings]

Imran Khan: A Journey from Cricket Star to Political Leader

Imran Khan, born on October 5, 1952, in Lahore, Pakistan, is a multifaceted personality known for his remarkable career as an international cricketer and his subsequent transition into politics. His journey reflects not only personal ambition but also a deep commitment to the development of Pakistan, much like Luisa Moreno, who dedicated her life to advocating for labor rights and social justice. Both figures exemplify how individual passion can drive systemic change and inspire future generations.

Early Life and Cricket Career

Imran Khan grew up in a privileged family, receiving a solid education at Aitchison College in Lahore and later attending Keble College, Oxford, where he studied philosophy, politics, and economics. His cricket career began in the 1970s, and he quickly established himself as a talented all-rounder. Khan made his Test debut for Pakistan in 1971 and soon became one of the leading figures in world cricket.

Khan's cricketing prowess culminated in 1992 when he led the Pakistan national team to its first and only Cricket World Cup victory. This achievement not only elevated him to national hero status but also provided a platform for his future endeavors. After retiring from cricket, Khan's focus shifted to philanthropy and politics.

Philanthropy and Social Work

In 1994, Khan founded the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Lahore, named in honor of his mother, who died of cancer. This initiative was groundbreaking in Pakistan, offering world-class cancer treatment to those who could not afford it. The hospital's success inspired Khan to continue his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of Namal University and various initiatives aimed at improving education and healthcare in Pakistan.

Political Career

Khan entered the political arena in 1996 by founding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Initially, his political career faced challenges, as the party struggled to gain traction against established political entities. However, Khan's relentless pursuit of anti-corruption and good governance resonated with many Pakistanis, particularly the youth.

After years of hard work and grassroots mobilization, PTI emerged as a significant political force in the 2018 general elections, winning a majority and allowing Khan to become Pakistan's 22nd Prime Minister. His administration focused on several key issues, including anti-corruption measures, economic reforms, and social welfare programs.

Challenges as Prime Minister

Khan's tenure has not been without challenges. He faced a struggling economy, high inflation rates, and a complex geopolitical landscape, particularly in relation to Pakistan's ties with neighboring India and Afghanistan. Khan's government has also been criticized for its handling of various domestic issues, including media freedoms and political dissent.

Despite these obstacles, Khan has remained committed to his vision for Pakistan, advocating for a welfare state and emphasizing the importance of education and health care. His government has launched initiatives such as the Ehsaas Program, aimed at providing financial assistance to the underprivileged.

Legacy and Future Aspirations

Imran Khan's legacy is still being shaped as he navigates the complexities of leadership. His journey from a cricket superstar to a political leader is a testament to his determination and vision for Pakistan. He has inspired a generation to engage in politics and social issues, demonstrating that change is possible through dedication and hard work.

As Pakistan faces various challenges, Khan's ability to unite the nation and deliver on his promises will be critical in determining his legacy. Whether he can transform his vision into reality remains to be seen, but his impact on both cricket and politics will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.

[jobaaj]

🚨𝑃𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑜𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛!🚨 𝐈𝐦𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝!! 🤔 What's Happening?

The Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistani government has announced a ban on Imran Khan’s PTI party!

Additionally, party leader Imran Khan, founding member Arif Alvi, and former Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri are facing charges of treason!!

🧐 Why?

Due to 4 major cases:

Foreign Funding: The PTI received millions in foreign funding between 2009-13, under-reported funds, and concealed dozens of bank accounts!

May 9th Riots: Allegedly, the party incited riots on May 9, 2023, following Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case, resulting in 10 deaths, hundreds of injuries, and a loss of PKR 2.5 billion!!

Classified Cable Leak: Khan publicized a classified cable from Pakistan’s ambassador in the US, reportedly detailing the US' desire to remove Khan!!

IMF Deal Disruption: The government accuses Imran Khan of attempting to derail the IMF deal by calling for unnecessary election audits!!!

😲𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲: - The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is currently the biggest Opposition party! - Imran Khan has been in jail for over a year on cases he claims are false and politically motivated to keep him and his party out of power! ❓𝙸̲𝚜̲ ̲𝚝̲𝚑̲𝚎̲ ̲𝚂̲𝚑̲𝚊̲𝚛̲𝚒̲𝚏̲ ̲𝚐̲𝚘̲𝚟̲𝚎̲𝚛̲𝚗̲𝚖̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚝̲ ̲𝚝̲𝚛̲𝚢̲𝚒̲𝚗̲𝚐̲ ̲𝚝̲𝚘̲ ̲𝚎̲𝚡̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚗̲𝚐̲𝚞̲𝚒̲𝚜̲𝚑̲ ̲𝚒̲𝚝̲𝚜̲ ̲𝙾̲𝚙̲𝚙̲𝚘̲𝚜̲𝚒̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲?̲ Follow Jobaaj Stories (the media arm of Jobaaj.com Group for more)

About Jobaaj Stories

Jobaaj Stories began as the storytelling branch of Jobaaj and has since expanded to cover news, inspiring stories, and valuable information. Our mission is to educate and inspire young professionals and students through storytelling, enriching you with information and motivation.

[wordexpress]

Pak Admits Violating Pact With India, Nawaz Sharif Says "Was Our Fault"

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday admitted that Islamabad had "violated" an agreement with India signed by him and ex-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999, in an apparent reference to the Kargil misadventure by Gen Pervez Musharraf.

"On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out five nuclear tests. After that Vajpayee Saheb came here and made an agreement with us. But we violated that agreement…it was our fault," Sharif told a meeting of the PML-N general council that elected him president of the ruling party six years after he was disqualified by the Supreme Court.

After a historic summit here, Nawaz Sharif and Ata Bihari Vajpayee signed the Lahore Declaration on February 21, 1999. The agreement that talked about a vision of peace and stability between the two countries signalled a breakthrough. Still, a few months later Pakistani intrusion in the Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir led to the Kargil conflict.

"President Bill Clinton had offered Pakistan USD 5 billion to stop it from carrying out nuclear tests but I refused. Had (former prime minister) Imran Khan like a person been on my seat he would have accepted Clinton's offer," Sharif said on a day when Pakistan marked the 26th anniversary of its first nuclear tests.

Sharif, 74, talked about how he was removed from the office of the prime minister in 2017 on a false case by then Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar. He said all cases against him were false while the cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder leader Imran Khan were true.

He also talked about the role of former ISI chief Gen Zahirul Islam in toppling his government in 2017 to bring Imran Khan into power. He asked Imran Khan to deny that he was not launched by the ISI.

"I ask Imran not to blame us (of being patronised by the army) and tell whether Gen Islam had talked about bringing the PTI into power," he said and added Khan would sit at the feet of the military establishment.

The three-time premier talked about receiving a message from Gen Islam to resign from the office of prime minister (in 2014). "When I refused, he threatened to make an example of me," he said.

Sharif also praised his younger brother Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for standing by his side through thick and thin. "Efforts were made to create differences between us but Shehbaz remained loyal to me. Even Shehbaz was asked to become PM in the past and leave me but he declined," he said.

[swldx]

BBC 0438 13 Feb 2024

12095Khz 0359 13 FEB 2024 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from TALATA VOLONONDRY. SINPO = 55334. English, ID@0359z pips and newsroom preview. @0401z World News anchored by Stewart Macintosh. US President Biden said Israeli operations in Rafah "should not proceed without a credible plan for ensuring the safety" of civilians. Speaking after a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah, Mr Biden also said the US was working on a ceasefire deal lasting "at least six weeks". Ahead of the Indian farmers' protest in Delhi on Tuesday, the Centre on Monday held talks with farmer leaders in Chandigarh in a bid to dissuade them from their “Delhi Chalo” march. However, the five-hour long talks remained inconclusive, with the farmers deciding to go ahead with their march. Pakistanis still do not know which party will form their next government or who their next prime minister will be four days after the hotly-contested general elections. Despite former PM Imran Khan's detention and the many hurdles thrown at his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), independent candidates backed by the party stunned observers by winning 93 National Assembly seats, the most by any party. However it is far short of the 169-seat simple majority required to form a government. Europe will need 10 years before it is fully ready to defend itself, the boss of Germany's biggest defence firm, Rheinmetall, told the BBC. He made the comments during a visit by Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a foundation-laying ceremony for a major new arms manufacturing plant in Lower Saxony. Ex-US President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to suspend a lower court ruling that he does not have presidential immunity from prosecution. The Supreme Court will now decide if it will put the ruling on hold to allow Mr Trump to appeal. A woman clad in a trench coat and accompanied by a child opened fire in a crowded Texas megachurch before she was gunned down by security, officials say. The suspect, named by police as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, was with her seven-year-old son, who was critically injured in the Houston shootout. Investigators said the attacker had "Palestine" written on the butt of her rifle and they had uncovered antisemitic writings. 5.5 tons of cartel cocaine seized by Colombia military. A Mexican bullfighter was fighting for his life on Monday after being gored in the neck over the weekend during a show in the central state of Tlaxcala, medics said. @0405z "The Newsroom" begins. Backyard gutter antenna, Etón e1XM. 250kW, beamAz 315°, bearing 63°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 15359KM from transmitter at Talata Volonondry. Local time: 2159.

[awaisdilshadme-blog]

Unraveling Pakistan’s Political Turmoil: A Call for Global Engagement

The pre-poll rigging in Pakistan, involving the expulsion of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a political entity, underscores the broader erosion of democratic principles nationally. The consequences are likely to be regional and even global if Pakistan’s slide towards autocracy continues. In the intricate tapestry of global geopolitics, the health of democracy in one nation often reverberates across borders. As Pakistan grapples with the complexities of its political landscape, currently embroiled in controversies surrounding elections to be held on 8 February 2024, the state’s machinery has constrained the largest political party—Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI). Free and fair elections constitute a linchpin in shaping the political trajectory of any nation, and Pakistan stands as no exception to this rule. The significance of democratic processes goes beyond national borders, playing a pivotal role in ensuring both political stability and global credibility, particularly in strategic and economic relationships. They are of paramount importance for economic growth, attracting foreign investment, and enhancing the overall quality of life for citizens. A politically stable Pakistan assumes significance for regional security, given its geopolitical importance as a nuclear power and key transit state for resources into China Central Asia. The disqualification of Imran Khan from holding public office has already rattled internal political institutions. It is based on a controversial trail of 202 legal cases, including a Toshakhana reference (state gift) and a treason case. The charges underscore a concerning trend of legal maneuvers aimed at sidelining opposition figures. The enforced disappearances of PTI leaders, along with their coerced pledges of allegiance to synthetic political parties, which emerged a few months back in the Pakistani political arena, and their dissociation from politics, have contributed adversely to the erosion of democratic processes within the country. Peaceful protests organized by PTI have faced crackdowns, often marked by excessive force and arbitrary arrests, which highlight the broader suppression of democratic voices in the country. Limitations on media coverage of PTI’s activities, coupled with the intimidation of journalists critical of the government, pose threats to press freedoms and hinder public access to diverse perspectives. The institutional practices of gerrymandering and voter suppression have been specifically directed toward supporters of the PTI in pivotal constituencies. In its recent action, the Supreme Court of Pakistan took the unprecedented step of endorsing the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to strip the PTI of its designated party symbol, the cricket bat. This development has restricted the PTI candidates from campaigning under a unified party symbol.

Read more: https://adnewsmafia.blogspot.com/2024/01/unraveling-pakistans-political.html

[blogynews]

"Secrets Unveiled: Imran Khan's Party Leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi Found Guilty in Mysterious Cipher Case by Pakistani Probe Agency"

Pakistan’s top investigation agency, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has declared former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi guilty in a case related to the alleged disclosure of state secrets, commonly known as the cipher case. The FIA submitted the charge sheet against Khan, who is the chairman of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, and his deputy Qureshi to a…

[blogynewz]

"Secrets Unveiled: Imran Khan's Party Leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi Found Guilty in Mysterious Cipher Case by Pakistani Probe Agency"

Pakistan’s top investigation agency, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has declared former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi guilty in a case related to the alleged disclosure of state secrets, commonly known as the cipher case. The FIA submitted the charge sheet against Khan, who is the chairman of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, and his deputy Qureshi to a…

[blogynewsz]

"Secrets Unveiled: Imran Khan's Party Leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi Found Guilty in Mysterious Cipher Case by Pakistani Probe Agency"

Pakistan’s top investigation agency, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has declared former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi guilty in a case related to the alleged disclosure of state secrets, commonly known as the cipher case. The FIA submitted the charge sheet against Khan, who is the chairman of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, and his deputy Qureshi to a…

[xtruss]

Imran Khan Warns That Pakistan’s Election Could Be A Farce

His Party is Being Unfairly Muzzled, the Former Prime Minister Writes From Prison

— January 4th, 2024 | The Economist

Imran Khan, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan. Image: Dan Williams

Today pakistan is being ruled by caretaker governments at both the federal level and provincial level. These administrations are constitutionally illegal because elections were not held within 90 days of parliamentary assemblies being dissolved.

The public is hearing that elections will supposedly be held on February 8th. But having been denied the same in two provinces, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over the past year—despite a Supreme Court order last March that those votes should be held within three months—they are right to be sceptical about whether the national vote will take place.

The country’s election commission has been tainted by its bizarre actions. Not only has it defied the top court but it has also rejected my Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (pti) party’s nominations for first-choice candidates, hindered the party’s internal elections and launched contempt cases against me and other pti leaders for simply criticising the commission.

Whether elections happen or not, the manner in which I and my party have been targeted since a farcical vote of no confidence in April 2022 has made one thing clear: the establishment—the army, security agencies and the civil bureaucracy—is not prepared to provide any playing field at all, let alone a level one, for pti.

It was, after all, the establishment that engineered our removal from government under pressure from America, which was becoming agitated with my push for an independent foreign policy and my refusal to provide bases for its armed forces. I was categorical that we would be a friend to all but would not be anyone’s proxy for wars. I did not come to this view lightly. It was shaped by the huge losses Pakistan had incurred collaborating with America’s “war on terror”, not least the 80,000 Pakistani lives lost.

In March 2022 an official from America’s State Department met Pakistan’s then ambassador in Washington, dc. After that meeting the ambassador sent a cipher message to my government. I later saw the message, via the then foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and it was subsequently read out in cabinet.

In view of what the cipher message said, I believe that the American official’s message was to the effect of: pull the plug on Imran Khan’s prime ministership through a vote of no confidence, or else. Within weeks our government was toppled and I discovered that Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, had, through the security agencies, been working on our allies and parliamentary backbenchers for several months to move against us.

People flocked onto the streets to protest against this regime change, and in the next few months pti won 28 out of 37 by-elections and held massive rallies across the country, sending a clear message as to where the public stood. These rallies attracted a level of female participation that we believe was unprecedented in Pakistan’s history. This unnerved the powers that had engineered our government’s removal.

To add to their panic, the administration that replaced us destroyed the economy, bringing about unprecedented inflation and a currency devaluation within 18 months. The contrast was clear for everyone to see: the pti government had not only saved Pakistan from bankruptcy but also won international praise for its handling of the covid-19 pandemic. In addition, despite a spike in commodity prices, we steered the economy to real gdp growth of 5.8% in 2021 and 6.1% in 2022.

Unfortunately, the establishment had decided I could not be allowed to return to power, so all means of removing me from the political landscape were used. There were two assassination attempts on my life. My party’s leaders, workers and social-media activists, along with supportive journalists, were abducted, incarcerated, tortured and pressured to leave pti. Many of them remain locked up, with new charges being thrown at them every time the courts give them bail or set them free. Worse, the current government has gone out of its way to terrorise and intimidate pti’s female leaders and workers in an effort to discourage women from participating in politics.

I face almost 200 legal cases and have been denied a normal trial in an open court. A false-flag operation on May 9th 2023—involving, among other things, arson at military installations falsely blamed on pti—led to several thousand arrests, abductions and criminal charges within 48 hours. The speed showed it was pre-planned.

This was followed by many of our leaders being tortured or their families threatened into giving press conferences and engineered television interviews to state that they were leaving the party. Some were compelled to join other, newly created political parties. Others were made to give false testimony against me under duress.

Despite all this, pti remains popular, with 66% support in a Pattan-Coalition 38 poll held in December; my personal approval rating is even higher. Now the election commission, desperate to deny the party the right to contest elections, is indulging in all manner of unlawful tricks. The courts seem to be losing credibility daily.

Meanwhile, a former prime minister with a conviction for corruption, Nawaz Sharif, has returned from Britain, where he was living as an absconder from Pakistani justice. In November a Pakistani court overturned the conviction (Under United States’ Scrotums Licker Corrupt Army Generals’ Directions).

It is my belief that Corrupt to his Core Mr Sharif has struck a deal with the establishment whereby it will support his acquittal and throw its weight behind him in the upcoming elections. But so far the public has been unrelenting in its support for pti and its rejection of the “selected”.

It is under these circumstances that elections may be held on February 8th. All parties are being allowed to campaign freely except for pti. I remain incarcerated, in solitary confinement, on absurd charges that include treason. Those few of our party’s leaders who remain free and not underground are not allowed to hold even local worker conventions. Where pti workers manage to gather together they face brutal police action.

In this scenario, even if elections were held they would be a disaster and a farce, since pti is being denied its basic right to campaign. Such a joke of an election would only lead to further political instability. This, in turn, would further aggravate an already volatile economy.

The only viable way forward for Pakistan is fair and free elections, which would bring back political stability and rule of law, as well as ushering in desperately needed reforms by a democratic government with a popular mandate. There is no other way for Pakistan to disentangle itself from the crises confronting it. Unfortunately, with democracy under siege, we are heading in the opposite direction on all these fronts. ■

— Imran Khan is the Founder and Former Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and was Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022.

— Editor’s Note: Pakistan’s government and America’s State Department deny Mr Khan’s allegations of American interference in Pakistani politics (Bullshit! Hegemonic War Criminal Conspirator United States and Corrupt Army Generals and Politicians of Pakistan Were Clearly Involved. It’s Social Media’s Modern Era, Not 1970). The government is prosecuting him under the Official Secrets Act.

[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.

[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]

[creative-pens]

Stop giving coverage to ex-PM Imran Khan, Pakistan govt tells media houses

The government said it was making sure that the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief's social media activities are also blocked.

LAHORE: The Pakistan government on Friday urged the country's media houses to refrain from publishing or broadcasting speeches, statements, tweets or pictures of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The government said it was making sure that the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief's social media activities are also blocked.

According to a government official, both print and electronic media have been directed not to publish or broadcast Khan's speeches, statements, tweets or display his pictures.

"“We will make sure that media blackout of Imran Khan is completely enforced,”" the official said.

An informed source told PTI that the Pakistani media houses have been categorically told by the ‘powerful circles' to give no coverage to Khan.

He said Khan's media blackout was enforced from Friday.

The government order comes a day after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) directed all satellite TV channels not to promote the perpetrators of the May 9 violence.

It also directed them to ensure that coherence and national harmony are promoted and “hate mongers, rioters, their facilitators and perpetrators” are completely blacked out from the media.

Without naming Khan, PEMRA said: “Refrain from providing airtime to those who propagate hate speech and provoke public sentiments against the federation and state institutions”.

It said the hate mongers, representing political outfits, are abusing their power against Pakistan and state institutions by instigating the public.

“All such anti-state activities were orchestrated by the politically charged-up zealots of a political party behaving largely as hate mongers to instigate political activists,” it said.

There has been a crackdown on the PTI leaders and workers after their alleged involvement in attacking army installations in the country following the arrest of Khan.

Violence erupted across Pakistan on May 9 when cricketer-turned-politician Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case.

Khan was released on bail two days later.

Over 20 military installations and government buildings including military headquarters in Rawalpindi were damaged in the unrest that ensued.

Over 100 vehicles of police and other security agencies were also set on fire in the violence that left more than 10 persons dead.

Khan has said over 25 PTI workers were killed in the violence and that law enforcement agencies arrested over 10,000 PTI workers across Pakistan.

As many as 4,000 of them are from Punjab.

[wordexpress]

Pakistani court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan over May 9 violence

Lahore police on May 10 registered two FIRs against Khan and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI ) party leaders on charges of attacking and torching a ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party office and a container.

A Pakistani court on Tuesday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in two cases related to arson attacks during the May 9 violence which erupted following his arrest in a corruption case.

Lahore police on May 10 registered two FIRs against Khan and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI ) party leaders on charges of attacking and torching a ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party office and a container.

“Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore judge Abher Gul Khan on Tuesday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan and six other leaders of his party in two cases of arson attacks,” a court official told PTI.

He said police might arrest the former-cricketer-turned politician and produce him before the court in these cases.

A source in the Punjab government told PTI that no direction had come from the “top” (a reference to the powerful military establishment) as yet to nab the former premier after the issuance of arrest warrants against him.

Other PTI leaders whose non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued include Khan’s nephew Hassaan Niazi, former federal ministers Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed and Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, former provincial cabinet members Musarrat Cheema and Mian Aslam Iqbal.

Khan, in a tweet on Tuesday, questioned why no investigation of attacks on the military and state installations had been carried out yet.

“Question that needs to be asked is, how come there is no investigation so far on 16 unarmed protesters confirmed shot dead by our security forces (while no policeman was injured by any bullets),” he said.

“Three of the unarmed protesters, because of bullet wounds, had to have their legs amputated while nine others who are suspected to have died, we have no news as their relatives are either underground or too scared of the police to speak out,” Khan added.

The 70-year-old PTI chief further said that a thorough probe would have been held by now, and the government held accountable in any society ruled by law.

“There has been no independent investigation even on the arson that took place on the 9th of May as the government is busy using that as a pretext to dismantle Pakistan’s biggest political party,” he alleged.

Widespread violence erupted in Pakistan after Khan was arrested by paramilitary personnel inside the Islamabad High Court on May 9. He was later released on bail.

Over 20 military installations and state buildings, including military headquarters in Rawalpindi, were damaged or torched in the violent protests that followed Khan’s arrest.

According to PTI, law enforcement agencies arrested over 10,000 party workers across Pakistan, mostly from Punjab.

Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, was ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him for his independent foreign policy on Russia, China and Afghanistan.