Did the US Have a Secret Hand in Imran Khan's Ouster?
Despite crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party, Imran Khan, the party's imprisoned chairperson and former Pakistani prime minister, is expected to run in the upcoming general elections on February 8, as confirmed by his party.
SputnikIn May 2023, the ex-PM of Pakistan, Imran Khan, was arrested inside the Islamabad High Court by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on charges of corruption.
But, after that, multiple cases, including related to terrorism, leaking state secrets (the Cypher case), propagating violence, and involvement in the Toshakhana case, were filed against him.
Recently, his plea of not guilty in the Cypher case and the Toshakhana case has, on the one side, complicated his case, while, on other side, has assured his ability to contest the upcoming general election in Pakistan. His conviction in the Toshakhana case resulted in a five-year disqualification from general elections; thus, the Islamabad High Court IHC suspended his three-year sentence. Despite this, he remains incarcerated due to other pending cases.
The alleged secret diplomatic cable known as Cypher contained details of a meeting between
US State Department officials, which included Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, and Pakistani envoy Asad Majeed Khan last year.
However, after being removed from power, Imran Khan claimed that his ouster was the result of a foreign conspiracy, pointing the finger specifically at the United States of America.
Will Imran Khan Contest 2024 General Election?
Despite the Islamabad High Court's verdict allowing Imran Khan to contest the general election of 2024, and the acceptance of his candidature papers, the Election Commission of Pakistan is reportedly unwilling to accept the nomination.
According to Imran Khan's legal team, this refusal constitutes a violation of the court's decision and its proceedings.
The legal team representing Imran Khan is actively working to secure his release on bail and challenge the ban that has hindered his ability to campaign for his party before the
February 8th elections, despite facing numerous legal obstacles.
However, there are many case filed against him, and behind his ousting but the case of Cyper pertains to diplomatic communications between Washington and Islamabad, which Khan, ex PM of Pakistan, alleges were part of a US conspiracy to overthrow his government last year.
The arrest is related to the cypher case under the Official Secrets Act, where both Qureshi and Khan are accused of leaking diplomatic cypher contents during a public gathering. The crackdown on the PTI Party, its workers, and candidates in Pakistan is perceived as an attempt to restrict Imran Khan, a PTI Party leader, and candidates from participating in the upcoming 2024 election.
In this regard, Hassan Zulfiqar, a political analyst and former 3-star ranking official in Pakistan's Armed Forces, told Sputnik, “The military establishment is determined to sideline Imran Khan by any means necessary. He also indicated that the compromised judiciary is unable to challenge the military. Therefore, it is up to you to draw your own conclusions.”
Similarly,
Dr.Rashid, a political thinker and analyst,
said to Sputnik, “Given that the courts do not operate in accordance with the laws, I don't anticipate any changes in this case. It seems likely that the army and establishment will make every effort to find Imran Khan guilty, one way or another.”
Dr. Tughral Yamin, a think tanker, researcher at the Institute of Policy Studies Islamabad, former Dean of the Centre for International Peace and Stability, former Brigadier of Pakistan’s Army, and political analyst, told Sputnik, "The outcome of the legal proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan will determine his political future. The PTI's performance in the upcoming elections on February 8 next year will undoubtedly be influenced if their influential leader is unable to participate in the polls."
Speaking with Sputnik, A political expert and analyst said, "The political landscape of Pakistan operates in a familiar manner. It has seen prime ministers being imprisoned or sentenced to death, leaders disqualified from elections, crackdowns on one party, and actions against another party. This is not a new experience for us; we are accustomed to it. Political history is full of such cases."
Crackdown on PTI Workers
Since the inception of the
May 9 riots or
9/5 riots, numerous
PTI workers, leaders, journalists, and political activists have been arrested and detained.
On May 9, 2023, a series of violent incidents, known as the May 9 riots or 9/5 riots, occurred in Pakistan. These events unfolded following the arrest of Imran Khan, the head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. Demonstrations organised by PTI's supporters turned into violent riots, resulting in significant damage to government and military facilities.
Since the announcement of the upcoming general election of 2024, again, the wave of crackdown, detention, snatching nomination files for elections from PTI political leaders, and attacking residents of political activists has begun, as per media reports.
Just a week prior, a petition was filed in court to revoke the PTI party's election symbol (Bat) in the upcoming general election. However, on Tuesday, against this petition, the Peshawar High Court dismissed this request and granted permission for PTI to use the bat as its election symbol.
In this context, Dr. Yamin said, “Khan's continuous criticism of the main Pakistani political parties and the establishment led to strained relations. His straightforward approach left no political party satisfied with his conduct.”
US Involvement in Pakistani Politics
Previous political and historical evidences say that in the country's history, not a single prime minister has ever completed his five-year tenure as required by the country's constitution.
Speaking to Sputnik, Sardar Azeem Afrasiyab, Managing Director at Trio Lawyer Association, writer, attorney, political analyst, and advocate, said, “Foreign involvement is consistently portrayed as the antagonist in this ongoing drama. Each critical tweet from the United States is seen as evidence of a larger conspiracy, and every stern look from the IMF is viewed as a hidden threat. Nevertheless, it's important to remember that when your house is ablaze, you call the fire brigade instead of blaming the neighbourhood dogs for barking at the smoke.”
Further, he added, “Foreign influence is a reality, much like it is in any other nation. The crucial approach is to handle it effectively rather than embrace it as a symbol of victimhood. Therefore, it is high time we unite against foreign involvement in our soil. It is the question of the state's sovereignty.”
Khan, moreover claimed, “Predictably, the following day, a no-confidence motion was tabled in
the National Assembly of Pakistan. Prior to this, there were reports of the US Embassy meeting with our parliamentarians and backbenchers, indicating a high level of engagement. Notably, some individuals who had visited the American Embassy beforehand were among the first to express their support for the motion. This sequence of events left me puzzled, as I struggled to comprehend why the U.S. would object to a deal of this nature.”
In one of the political gatherings, in a passionate address to his workers, Imran Khan reiterated his allegations that his rivals conspired with the United States to remove him from power due to his foreign policy decisions, which often appeared to lean towards
China and
Russia while challenging the U.S.
In this regard, former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, PTI leader, when she was in power, informed Pakistani Parliament about a purported memo from a U.S. official, suggesting that "all would be forgiven" if Khan was no longer in power. She questioned the basis for such forgiveness, asking, "Forgiven for what? What is our sin?” She exclaimed with grief in the country's national assembly.
Imran Riaz Khan, a journalist, activist, and anchorperson who was reported missing and later returned after a period of four months, previously stated to the
media, "In Pakistan, political systems and governments are manipulated, overthrown, and altered under the influence of foreign powers in collaboration with Pakistani institutions. I refuse to submit to the puppet-like and corrupt system."
The U.S. State Department, however, has refuted any involvement in Pakistan's internal politics. Deputy State Department representative Jalina Porter stated that there was "absolutely no truth to these allegations."
Despite this, Khan urged his workers and supporters, particularly the youth, who have been a key part of his base since he took office in 2018, to demonstrate. He called on them to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and resist alleged American influence. Imran Khan emphasised the need for the people to protect their own future, democracy, sovereignty, and independence, stating, "This is your duty."