Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has drawn parallels to the case of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal being granted bail to continue campaigning ahead of India’s general elections. Khan made the comparison during his appearance before a five-member Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, in a case concerning amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman used the platform to voice his grievances regarding the perceived victimisation and mistreatment he has faced since his ouster from power in April 2022. The Supreme Court bench included Justices Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Athar Minallah, and Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi.
Justice Minallah commented on the unfortunate circumstances of Khan’s imprisonment, noting that Khan leads a significant political party with millions of followers. Khan, 71, contended that he faced oppression in Pakistan, which he likened to an undeclared “martial law,” whereas Kejriwal was granted the opportunity to campaign freely during the Indian general elections.
“I was convicted within five days, solely to keep me away from the general elections held on February 8,” Khan lamented. He also expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court’s decision to reject the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s request for live streaming the case proceedings.
“You mentioned in the judgment that I engaged in political point-scoring during the last hearing. I fail to see what political scoring I supposedly did,” Khan questioned Chief Justice Isa.
In response, Chief Justice Isa clarified that a judge is not obliged to explain their verdicts. “You can file a review petition,” he suggested, advising Khan to adhere to discussions pertinent to the pending case before the court.
Khan further decried what he termed political victimization and urged the Supreme Court to appoint a chairman for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s primary anti-corruption agency. “When the Opposition and government reach an impasse regarding the NAB chairman appointment, a ‘third umpire’ steps in to make the decision,” said Khan, alleging that NAB operates under this “third umpire.”
Justice Minallah reiterated that there was no justification for invalidating the NAB amendments.
. Khan, who is currently entangled in several NAB inquiries, called for improvements within the anti-corruption body.
Following a reminder from Justice Minallah about the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner, Khan argued that reinstating the amendment would aid him in battling his NAB cases but warned that doing so could push the country towards bankruptcy.
Chief Justice Isa also prevented Khan from referencing the Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict in the cipher cases, indicating that an appeal in that matter might still be filed in the apex court. “Why didn’t you oppose the NAB amendments in Parliament?” Justice Rizvi questioned.
Khan attributed his silence to the circumstances at the time, claiming his government was overthrown through a conspiracy. “I did not want to respond to a conspiratorial government in Parliament,” he declared.
Khan also urged the court to compare the conditions he was subjected to in jail with the amenities provided to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In a lighter exchange, Justice Mandokhel pointed out that Nawaz Sharif was not currently in jail, quipping, “Do you want us to send him to jail?”
Chief Justice Isa remarked that the court would consider a surprise visit by a judicial officer to inspect the jail conditions.
The courtroom exchanges encapsulate the charged atmosphere surrounding Khan’s legal battles and political strategies. His invocation of Kejriwal’s bail demonstrates his attempt to draw international parallels and underscore what he perceives as disparate treatments in similar political contexts.
The broader implications of this legal and political saga continue to ripple through Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape, where the alignment of judicial and executive powers is under intense scrutiny. The outcome of these proceedings could significantly influence the political future of Imran Khan and his party, shaping the contours of the next general election.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from PTI)
The DNA app is now available for download on the Google Play Store. Please download the app and share your feedback with us.
