News Analysis |
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court concluded its hearings on Imran Khan Case in the petition brought by Hanif Abbasi, the leader of PML-N. However, the apex court did not reserve its judgment since it has yet to hear the last part of the case regarding Jahangir Khan Tareen and is waiting for more documents. The court will only deliver its judgment once all the documents are presented to it and the arguments by both counsels are concluded.
The bench was hearing Abbasi’s petition which seeks the disqualification of Imran Khan and PTI secretary general Jahangir Khan Tareen over non-disclosure of assets, existence of offshore companies owned by Imran and Tareen as well as PTI being a foreign-aided party.
Initially, Abbasi made the plea that Bani Galla property was acquired through funds that had been laundered illegally. However, his stance kept on changing and sources reveal that Mr. Abbasi has failed to convince the court on the charges he leveled against Imran Khan.
PTI minus Imran Khan will still be a force to reckon with. Even if Imran Khan is not the leader of PTI, his supporters will still rally around him and he will continue to be the central figure in Pakistani politics
On July 25, 2017, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Naeem Bukhari said after receiving the documents from Imran’s former wife, Jemima, the money trail has been completed.
Read more: Infighting within PML(N) worsens as accountability of…
Addressing the media the same day, PTI Spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said the case against Imran Khan belongs in the wastebasket. He said once the Panama Papers verdict is announced, the entire PML-N leadership too will be in the trash bin.
Difference between IK and Nawaz Sharif case?
Sections of print and electronic media have tried to draw compassion between the case of Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif. However, this is not based on concrete facts.
Nawaz Sharif, on the other hand, acquired power by the virtue of controlling state machinery. He represents the status quo and that is why loss a political office for him is a huge problem
Nawaz Sharif remained Chief Minister of Punjab and Prime Minister of Pakistan three times each. Nawaz’s political journey began in Zia era where military establishment gave him unconditional support since it wanted to create a stalwart against PPP. Even after the death of Zia, Nawaz had cordial relations with the establishment whom he now accuses of hatching a conspiracy to oust him from the premiership.
Read more: Democracy under threat from Nawaz Sharif?
On the other hand, Imran Khan is a charismatic political leader. He has created his own philosophy and a political party. He is neither a creation of the establishment nor received funds from it at any point of time. Imran Khan was a public figure in his own right who ended up marrying the daughter of James Goldsmith who was the seventh richest person in the UK.
While Nawaz Sharif accumulated all the wealth during his tenure as Chief Minister and later Prime Minister, Imran Khan made his entire property during his years as a cricketer
While Nawaz Sharif accumulated all the wealth during his tenure as Chief Minister and later Prime Minister, Imran Khan made his entire property during his years as a cricketer.
By all means, Imran Khan Case is very different from that of Nawaz Sharif and that’s why Hanif Abbasi and Sheikh Waqas Akram are now relying on mere technicalities instead of concrete evidence against Imran Khan.
The transactions PML-N is pointing to, relates mostly to transactions between Imran Khan and his wife while Nawaz was indicted for massive corruption from taxpayers money.
Read more: Jhelum symbolizes all that could go wrong…
What if Imran Khan is disqualified?
The accountability drive which led to the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif has now brought Imran Khan under its fold. Despite the fact that evidence against Imran Khan is weak, a decision against him by the apex court cannot be ruled out.
If Imran Khan is disqualified, he will not lose any executive authority. He can nominate anyone from his party to become the Prime Minister in his stead in case of victory in 2018 elections.
Sections of print and electronic media have tried to draw compassion between the case of Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif. However, this is not based on concrete facts
Imran Khan doesn’t control state machinery and has gained popularity through his charisma and social work. Shaukat Khaanam and Namal University are projects he capitalizes on to gain public trust.
Nawaz Sharif, on the other hand, acquired power by the virtue of controlling state machinery. He represents the status quo and that is why loss a political office for him is a huge problem.
Read more: PML-N : A Private Limited Company or…
Nawaz Sharif’s re-election as the head of the ruling party today was a desperate move on part of Sharif family. It is because of the fact that Nawaz and his aides know that only by being in power they could deter any effort of impartial accountability against him and his family.
On July 25, 2017, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Naeem Bukhari said after receiving the documents from Imran’s former wife, Jemima, the money trail has been completed
There is little doubt that Nawaz Sharif will now use this position to influence the next general elections. The appointment of chairman NAB and later the caretaker government will have Nawaz’s say in it. This will hamper the conduct of impartial elections which are due to be held next year.
PTI minus Imran Khan will still be a force to reckon with. Even if Imran Khan is not the leader of PTI, his supporters will rally around him and he will continue to be the central figure in Pakistani politics.