Is Jailed Imran Khan's Return to Power Likely in Politically Turbulent Pakistan?

At a press conference in Islamabad, PTI spokesman Raoof Hasan said the EU report, which had been forwarded to the government through the Election Commission, was 'extremely critical'.

"We demand the European Union make this report public for better conduct of elections in the future," Hasan said. "This is a right of the people of Pakistan and they should know how elections are conducted in this country," the spokesperson added.

According to Hasan, the EU report was a compilation of "pre-poll rigging, polling day rigging and post-poll rigging".

The 8 February election was marred by a mobile phone blackout and weeks of delays in announcing results, leading to allegations of vote-rigging, mainly by Khan's PTI party.

Although more than 90 independent candidates supported by the PTI won the largest number of seats in the National Assembly, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, struck a post-election deal to form a coalition government in the country.

Nawaz Sharif nominated his brother Shehbaz Sharif to lead the country as prime minister, while senior PPP member Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto's father, became president of Pakistan.

Imran Khan Makes Predictions From Jail

On Saturday, the PTI planned to hold a rally in Islamabad over the alleged rigging of the general elections.

The PTI wanted to hold a peaceful rally in the capital on 23 March and 30 March, but was turned down by the authorities on both occasions. This development comes shortly after Imran Khan held an informal meeting with the local media at Adiala Jail, where he is currently detained.

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, right, and Bushra Bibi his wife, talk to the media before signing documents to submit surety bond over his bails in different cases, at an office of Lahore High Court in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, July 17, 2023.

According to the former prime minister, he was "targeted" by being convicted in three cases within a week in an attempt to undermine his party. Khan accused the government, the powerful military establishment and the country's top election body of being behind last month's allegedly rigged polls.

Sputnik India spoke to political analysts who shed light on whether Khan's predictions can come true.

"What Imran Khan is saying is correct because the current government has no money. The economy is dying and until there is legitimacy to the government no foreign power will be willing to give money to aid Pakistan," a retired Pakistan Air Force squadron leader and security analyst, Fahad Masood, told Sputnik India.

He further said that what Khan is predicting can happen sooner or later, but in order for “the current government and the military establishment to survive they need to find solutions to the dwindling economy quickly.”

Pakistan is currently facing low economic growth of negative 0.5 per cent, coupled with an inflation rate of 25 per cent. In addition, the 22% interest rate has had a negative impact on the business environment, with many multinational companies pulling out of the country.

Shopkeepers and workers wait for electric power at a market following a power breakdown across the country, in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023.

Political & Economic Stability Yet to Be Seen

Meanwhile, Scotland-based political analyst Parvez Salik says Imran Khan's predictions are nothing more than wishful thinking.

"I think this is just wishful thinking on his part for three reasons: first is that the United States who created this coup in the first place is too busy with Israel and Russia to be bothered with Pakistan's politics at this time, as they have placed their stooges in the Pakistani government for now. The second reason is that the masses have not revolted or made widespread protests even when vote-rigging has been proven," Salik told Sputnik India.

The third reason, he says, is that there is no mechanism to remove the "corrupt and united PML and PPP government, backed by the powerful army".

So although Pakistan's general elections are over, economic and political stability has not been achieved. Imran Khan, who is still in jail along with many of his party leaders, has received no relief or political concessions.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has fielded candidates as independents after being barred from using its election symbol, the cricket bat. However, the PTI's founder is not backing down and has announced plans to hold a rally on Saturday with all opposition parties and stakeholders who have been "victims of election rigging".

However, it remains to be seen whether the parties will be allowed to hold rallies in the near future.

Political Affairs

Blood, Politics & Pakistan’s General Elections

8 February, 18:44