Imran Khan’s Political Struggles And The Battle Against The Army.

 

A Season of Political Decline:

Imran Khan's Political Struggles-Trust Declining Influence and the Battle Against the Army. Imran Khan finds himself amidst a political autumn during the scorching summer. The members of his party are abandoning him, departing like leaves falling in love with power.

Former governors, chief ministers, and federal ministers shamelessly sever their ties with him and his party, publicly condemning the events of May 9 and announcing their departure from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

May 9: Imran Khan's 9/11:

May 9 became a significant turning point for Imran Khan as he directly confronted the army. However, his attempts to mobilize public support against the army failed, causing a considerable number of loyalists to abandon him. 

In the aftermath of May 9, Imran Khan faced a mass exodus of supporters, reminiscent of rats fleeing a sinking ship.

Amidst this turmoil, one elderly man stood strong, refusing to join the chaos despite his advanced age and frailty. Who is this remarkable figure?

Chaudhry Pervez Elahi: A Loyalist Among Deserter:

Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, a former Chief Minister of Punjab and Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan had once been declared the biggest dacoit (bandit) of Punjab by Imran Khan. However, circumstances led Khan to embrace him as the Chief Minister of Punjab to salvage his government in the province. 

Elahi was appointed as the President of PTI a few months ago, making him one of the few remaining loyalists in Punjab.

Despite his political history, which includes deserting Nawaz Sharif in 1999 and establishing a new political party, Elahi stands unwaveringly beside Imran Khan as he confronts the Pakistan Army. Those who oppose Khan desire Elahi to join their newly launched political party, along with other former PTI members. 

Perhaps Elahi believes that Khan will face a prolonged disqualification from politics, and he can assume leadership in his absence, having been appointed President of PTI.

Imran Khan's Struggle against the Pakistan Army:

Imran Khan finds himself losing the battle against the Pakistan Army, yet his political journey is far from over. In many ways, he shares similarities with Donald Trump, as both face serious charges, including mutiny. 

Khan anticipates being tried in a military court and mentally prepares himself for potential imprisonment. Before facing jail time, he attempts to bridge the gap with his staunch political opponents, reaching out to them discreetly with a message to reduce the army's involvement in politics.

The Distrust of Khan's Opponents:

Despite widespread criticism of the army's interference in politics, Imran Khan's opponents remain reluctant to trust him. They are wary of his tendency to make U-turns, as his public stance often differs from his private one. 

Previously, Khan denounced his political opponents as a group of thieves, but now he seeks secret talks with these very individuals.

While Khan aims to establish channels of communication with Army Chief General Asim Munir, ruling out dialogue with the political government, his opponents perceive his actions as attempts to blackmail military leadership. Khan's carrot-and-stick approach fails to yield results with General Asim Munir or his political adversaries.

Home Minister Rana Sanaullah boldly asserts that Khan will face a military court trial for planning and orchestrating the attacks on May 9. Meanwhile, Khan's government launches an aggressive assault on media freedom.

Attacks on Media Freedom:

The Islamabad Police files a sedition case on June 15 against Shoaib Sheikh, the owner of BOL TV, and Sami Ibrahim, one of its anchors. The First Information Report accuses them of inciting people to attack military installations on May 9. 

Curiously, this case is registered a month after the mentioned date, alleging that the suspects were part of an organized conspiracy instigated by anti-Pakistani forces, intending to provoke insurgency and civil war in Pakistan.

Similar cases are filed against two US-based journalists, Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan, along with retired Army officers Haider Raza Mehdi and Adil Raja. The charges include mutiny and terrorism.

Adil Raja was briefly detained by London police but was released after a few hours. Furthermore, three more journalists—Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, and Akbar Hussain—face sedition charges in a separate case filed by the Islamabad police. Pirzada and Shakir left Pakistan months ago to evade arrest.

The Disappearance of Imran Riaz:

Imran Riaz, a journalist and YouTuber based in Lahore has been missing for over a month. Despite being arrested twice in the past and securing bail from various courts, he was taken into custody at Sialkot Airport while attempting to flee to Oman.

Video evidence of his arrest exists, yet the Lahore High Court was informed by the police that they were unaware of his whereabouts.

Journalists Caught in the Crossfire:

Many of the journalists currently facing legal troubles were previously aligned with the military establishment until April of the previous year. 

Most of them even supported a ban on me in 2021. Two individuals among them publicly branded me a traitor on their television shows due to my criticism of colonial-era laws being applied to political workers and journalists.

I vehemently opposed the abduction of journalists and the imposition of undisclosed censorship during Imran Khan's tenure. Sabir Shakir and Imran Riaz, who were once close to the military establishment and ardent supporters of Imran Khan, now find themselves entangled in a web of adversity. 

Shortly before his mysterious disappearance, Imran Riaz acknowledged his past mistakes and expressed a willingness to face legal consequences.

If he has indeed erred, he should be presented before a court of law. Detaining him in an undisclosed location not only violates the law but also undermines the constitution of Pakistan.

I condemn the attacks on Army installations on May 9, but those responsible for the violence must be dealt with according to the due process of law.

Counterproductive Actions and Uncertain Elections:

The use of brutal force against political opponents proves to be counterproductive, as it only serves to increase public sympathy. Imposing media blackouts and preventing newspapers and TV channels from featuring Imran Khan's images constitute illegal actions. 

This media blackout results in a surge of public sympathy, which may not manifest through street protests but could impact future elections.

Consequently, the future of elections remains uncertain. Many perceive Imran Khan as innocent until proven guilty, especially considering his imposition of censorship on Nawaz Sharif in 2020. As an advocate for genuine democracy and the rule of law in my country, I do not align myself with any political party. My allegiance lies solely with the constitution of Pakistan.

At present, the thirteen political parties in the ruling alliance are effectively countering Imran Khan, attempting to delay the general elections scheduled for October this year. 

Their aim is to defeat Imran Khan by postponing the elections, yet such a delay would not be a defeat for Khan alone but rather a defeat for the very essence of the constitution itself.

Tags:

Imran Khan, political struggles, trust, declining influence, Pakistan Army, mass exodus, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, May 9, military court, political opponents, media freedom, sedition cases, the disappearance of Imran Riaz, journalists, uncertain elections,

Hashtags: #ImranKhan #PoliticalStruggles #TrustIssues #DecliningInfluence #PakistanArmy #