Jailed leader Imran Khan’s party PTI faces huge challenge
New Delhi:
Pakistan’s elections will be held on Thursday. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is serving a 34-year prison sentence in separate cases, and his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) face a tough task just days before the polls.
Here’s a 10-point cheat sheet for the big story
Imran Khan faces around 150 cases. The most serious case is a case filed in May 2023. If convicted, he may be sentenced to death. In May 2023, after Imran Khan was arrested in the Qadir Trust corruption case, his supporters vandalized and set fire to government buildings.
PTI members also attacked bases of the Pakistan Army in different areas and the headquarters in Rawalpindi. In the May 9 violence, more than 100 people, including Imran Khan, were charged and charged under anti-terrorism laws.
This is considered a case of war against Pakistan. Section 59 of the Pakistan Army Act stipulates that anyone who takes up arms against Pakistan and attacks the Pakistani army or security forces can be sentenced to death.
On May 9, the case was being heard in a military court. However, Pakistan’s Supreme Court currently prohibits military courts from pronouncing sentences. Imran Khan, who has opened a front against the Pakistani army, is considered the mastermind of the May 9 violence.
Witnesses gave testimonies against Imran Khan, holding him responsible for inciting violence. Imran Khan called the accusations against him baseless. He called the May 9 violence a conspiracy to defame PTI.
Imran Khan said the plot was discussed in an agreement between Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan Army in London. He claimed that the Pakistan Army had struck a deal to bring Nawaz Sharif to power.
Imran Khan’s party symbol – the cricket bat – was taken away from him after party elections failed to take place on time. The government has taken over PTI headquarters.
Imran Khan himself has been declared ineligible to vote. But he claimed his popularity among supporters remained intact and his party would come to power.
With Imran Khan in jail and his party banned from contesting elections as a bloc, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has a chance of winning the most seats and giving its founder Nawaz Sharif fourth Served as Prime Minister for the first time.
Candidates loyal to the PTI and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) could still be decisive factors, but an overall lackluster campaign season and voter apathy suggested Thursday’s turnout would be low.
