As former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to face the heat in one case after another with interrogations and indictments, his family fears the popular leader may even be handed the death penalty.
By contrast, fellow opposition leader and ex-PM Nawaz Sharif — previously convicted in one corruption case and facing trial in another — has had his appeals upheld.
With the developments coming ahead of the 2024 national assembly elections, Sputnik India asks what will decide Khan’s political fate before the crucial polls and why his family's distrust in the judiciary is growing.
Global strategic and military analyst and retired Major General Shashi Bhushan Asthana found the concerns of the family valid, along with the “speculations” by Aleema Khan, the sister of Imran Khan, that he may be sentenced to capital punishment as a legitimate “a concern of the family”.
Anything’s Possible in Pakistan
"It would be certainly concerning, because with the kind of trials, which are happening and the way the judiciary is changing gears represents a danger to Khan," he opined.
The expert, however, observed that very few former heads of government have been sentenced to death, especially for charges that may not mandate that punishment.
“Considering the case per se, I don’t think it demands the order of capital punishment or death. But knowing what Pakistan is, if they can hang former Prime Minister Bhutto, Imran Khan can’t be an exception. Because precedent exists, and they have done it in the past,” he stated.
The pundit also highlighted the conduct of the trial so far.
Judicial Credibility at An All Time Low: Expert
The judiciary is also changing its stance towards the the 'Deep State', the retired general said, noting the concessions being given to Sharif.
An older group of judges worked in favour of Khan’s PTI and they gave certain decisions in favour of PTI, the noted geopolitical expert stated. “Now you find that slowly and slowly, a different kind of judges have come who are giving decisions in a different direction."
Is the Judiciary Deciding Imran Khan’s Political Fate?
The military expert pointed out that Khan was brought up by the army and now he has been dropped by the army, which is currying favour elsewhere — whether from Sharif or other politicians.
The problem is he was a beneficiary of the system at some point in time, but once he went against the army he caught the flak, the general said.
Asthana said it appeared Sharif was now getting undue favours from the judges. “Basically I think it’s a very predictable pattern…In that context certainly Khan is on the wrong side of the army, and Nawaz Sharif seems to be on the right side of it for a change.”