By Sheraz Khan – London
Pakistan’s legendary cricketer and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for the past ten months. June 23rd, Sunday, Pakistanis are staged protests in four major cities for his release. The first protest was in London, at the British Prime Minister’s official residence, 10 Downing Street. The second protest was in Manchester, Piccadilly; the third in Edinburgh, Scotland; and the fourth in Dublin, Ireland. It is believed that the Pakistani government must have asked the British government to stop these protests, but peaceful protests are allowed in the UK, So it took place.
Since being ousted from office in April 2022, Imran Khan has faced a long list of alleged bogus convictions and cases. The majority of the Pakistani public believes these cases are politically motivated and aimed at character assassination. Evidence includes public letters from judges of Pakistan’s highest courts, revealing pressure from institutions to rule against Imran Khan and his party leaders. Additionally, Imran Khan’s party PTI was prevented from campaigning freely and holding rallies for the February 8th elections. Despite such obstacles, the PTI won a landslide victory, but results were allegedly tampered with, yet PTI still emerged as the majority party in the National Assembly.
The coalition government formed by the PTI main opposition is weak and lacks public support, while the PTI managed to form a government in one of province KPK and remains leading opposition in Punjab which is 62 percent of Pakistan. Political instability continues, leading to economic instability, with foreign and domestic investors hesitating to invest. Pakistan is drowning in debt, owing $90 billion in foreign loans to be repaid in the next five years, and the new IMF budget has increased taxes by 30%. total population which is 240 Millions nearly half people are already living below the poverty line, and more loans are being taken to repay previous ones. Political instability and unconstitutional decisions have not only distanced the prospect of democracy but also led to human rights violations, corruption, nepotism, money laundering, and inflation, causing public unrest.
Overseas Pakistanis, once eager to invest, are now disillusioned due to the uncertain situation of the past two years. The country faces internal and external threats, but civil and military leadership seem oblivious. A country cannot function without public support, adherence to the constitution, the rule of law, and the independence and strength of institutions.
As for the allegations against Imran Khan, the most serious is the accusation that, following his arrest on May 7-8 , 2023, his party workers staged widespread protests and attacked military properties on May 9. Although Imran Khan condemned these incidents upon release repeatedly but he did not visit the Lahore Corps Commander’s house or any instaltion. Imran Khan and PTI consider these attacks a conspiracy to politically harm them and repeatedly demand an independent judicial commission to investigate the conspiracy behind these tragic events. However, the ruling circles have yet to agree to form such a commission. Courts have acquitted Imran Khan of major pre-election convictions, except for detaining him on the charge of marrying during his wife’s Iddat period, which lacks a solid basis. New cases are now being fabricated against him basically to keep him inside jail. PTI has announced protests nationwide for his release, but the Punjab government, representing 62% of Pakistan, has imposed Section 144, banning gatherings of four or more people, even though the constitution allows for assemblies and processions.
The state, being like a mother, should embrace its patriotic divided populace and move forward for the country’s betterment. Women, elderly, and young political prisoners should be released unless they are actual criminals, who should be punished according to the law. When a country is being destroyed, everyone must strive for improvement.
A poem by Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar for Pakistan’s leadership:
“Zafar, do not consider a person wise or intelligent,
who, in comfort, forgets God,
and in anger, does not fear God.”
