Imprisonment of Imran Khan

Ishtiaq Ahmed

Islamabad: Has justice taken its course or is this another sad day for Pakistan and its people? Imran Khan has been convicted, sentenced to three years in prison and fined Rs. 100,000 allegedly for the Toshakhana case today. Following the sentencing, he was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore and flown to the prison in Rawalpindi.

Whatever your political affiliation, this was a sad day for Pakistan. IK’s imprisonment was on the cards for some months and, hence, not breaking news in any sense.

Also, given that there are a multitude of pending cases against IK, we can assume that he could be in prison for a long time.

Whatever may transpire in the future, IK is most definitely ruled out of taking part in the country’s forthcoming elections for the next five years which was exactly what the present caretaker government had most ruthlessly planned for.

However, IK’s imprudent and ill-timed overtures did not help his cause. Now, the disintegration of PTI, cajoled and encouraged, leaves a clear ground for PPP and the Muslim League (N) to strengthen their stranglehold. The political scene is set for Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister, to return to Pakistan.

The timing of IK’s imprisonment just before the current caretaker government is to make way for another caretaker government is an example of political ruthlessness in Pakistan and full of political intrigue.

The political axis of power is so crude and predictable in Pakistan.