Pakistani court greenlights interrogation of Khan in May 9 mayhem

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Aug 2023 10:03

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to be interrogated by the anti-terrorism court of Pakistan regarding events that took place on May 9 in Lahore.

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan listens to a member of the media during a talk with reporters regarding the current political situation and the ongoing cases against him at his residence, in Lahore, Pakistan, on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023 (AP)

In a case related to the attack on Jinnah House, the Corps Commander House in Lahore Cantonment, the anti-terrorism court in Pakistan gave local police the greenlight to arrest and interrogate former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan.

The incident in question had taken place on May 9 during mayhem after the police attempted to arrest Khan. Currently, Khan has been arrested and convicted to serve three years at Attock jail.

Citing a senior official, on August 9, Reuters reported that the Pakistani government banned former Prime Minister Imran Khan from politics for five years, just days after announcing a three-year prison term against the popular leader over "corrupt practices".

In turn, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued an order to "disqualify" Khan for five years, which is the maximum period a convicted individual can receive under Pakistani law and as defined by the ECP.

"Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi is disqualified for a period of five years," the ECP order said, as per the news site.

However, Khan's aide Zulfikar Bukhari told Reuters "We knew this was inevitable," stressing that the party will challenge the decision in the high court.

"We're highly confident it will be reversed," Bukhari said.

An appeal filed by the former Prime Minister's legal team will be looked into by the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday, his lawyer Naeem Panjutha said.

Despite denying all allegations, Khan was escorted by police from his home in Lahore after a ruling on the Toshakaha case, in which he was accused of illegally selling gifts worth hundreds of millions of rupees initially intended for the state.

Khan was ousted as Prime Minister following a no-confidence vote in April 2022, and the nation had since witnessed political unrest, which culminated in his three-year graft prison sentence.

Moreover, Khan has appealed his conviction although he has been officially barred from holding public office for five years.

With over 200 legal cases thrown at him, Khan asserts that these charges are politically driven and are aimed at obstructing his participation in elections. His initial arrest and short detention in May led to several days of occasionally violent protests, marked by an unprecedented level of anger directed toward the military.

Pakistani parliament speaker says election to be delayed: Exclusive

The Pakistani elections are expected to be delayed around 3-4 months from October, Pakistani Parliament Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf told Al Mayadeen's Proximate Aspect this Wednesday.

The Pakistani official discussed domestic issues during his first interview with an Arab TV channel, including the general election, investments in Pakistan and the numerous issues pertaining to former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Citing the elections as "very important", Ashraf highlighted the recent population census undertaken by the Pakistani government. This led to a decision to reconfigure electoral constituencies, a process projected to require substantial time, ultimately contributing to the election delay.

Speaking on the role of the Pakistani army in safeguarding investments, the Pakistani parliament speaker underlined the collective awareness of national challenges among government institutions, the military, and the people. He emphasized the optimistic aspect of the army's collaboration with the government and the populace with the aim of boosting the economy, notably the agricultural sector.

Addressing the ousting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Ashraf highlighted that this marked the first instance where a government led by Khan faced removal due to a political and parliamentary maneuver. Losing the majority in parliament led to a vote of no confidence and Khan's subsequent resignation.

Elaborating on Khan's response to his removal, Ashraf detailed that Khan opted for public protests and boycotting the National Assembly. However, these actions did not resonate with the MPs who prioritized productive legislative enactments benefiting the nation.

Governance remained a focal point, with Ashraf accentuating the importance of elected representatives' responsibility, dictated by the Pakistani constitution and the people they represent.