Pakistan’s Imran Khan jailed: Is it the end of his political career? | Politics News
EXPLAINER
Khan’s political social gathering is now interesting the ruling which bans the former prime minister from politics for 5 years.
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan spent the night time at a high-security jail after an area courtroom handed him a three-year jail sentence over corruption allegations. The conviction bars Khan from politics for 5 years, threatening his political future.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been accused of illegally promoting state presents for revenue value 140 million Pakistani rupees ($497,500). Khan has denied wrongdoings, saying he legally purchased the presents from Toshakhana – a government-owned treasure home.
His attorneys say Khan was not given a good trial and that the case is politically motivated.
The common opposition chief, whose arrest in May sparked lethal protests, informed Al Jazeera that the authorities try to crush his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – the greatest social gathering in the nation forward of the polls.
“You cannot arrest an idea whose time has come. If you look at the poll surveys, PTI has approval rating of 70 percent. No party has had such popularity. So this is madness, what is going on,” Khan informed Al Jazeera in an interview simply earlier than his arrest on Saturday.
Here is what you want to find out about Imran Khan and what occurs subsequent:
Can Imran Khan attraction the conviction?
The PTI social gathering stated an attraction has been lodged in the increased courts in opposition to the choice.
Babar Awan, a member of the PTI and half of Khan’s authorized group, stated the ruling was a “ridiculous verdict by a sham court”.
“Imran Khan was not given a fair trial, which according to the country’s constitution is the right of every citizen,” Awan informed Al Jazeera.
Khan was not current in courtroom for the listening to. Pakistani regulation doesn’t present for the chance of holding trials in absentia, below which he was charged.
Therefore, Awan stated, there was “every likelihood of suspension of the verdict and early release of Imran Khan” following their attraction to the excessive courtroom.
Can Khan nonetheless be concerned in politics?
The arrest all however ends any hopes Khan could have of operating in the upcoming common election.
Anyone convicted of a prison offence is disqualified from contesting elections in Pakistan, and parliament is more likely to be dissolved in the subsequent two weeks, simply earlier than it completes its time period.
A common election is because of be held by mid-November, however there’s hypothesis the polls could possibly be delayed following the launch on Saturday of the nation’s newest census outcomes, which necessitates the redrawing of constituencies below Pakistani regulation.
If his attraction is unsuccessful, this ruling would solely enable Khan to return to politics after 5 years. However, this case is one of almost 150 that Khan is dealing with in the courts, which embody prices of corruption and tried homicide.
Khan has alleged that the instances slapped on him are to stop him from contesting elections.
Why is Imran Khan so common?
Khan was seen as a brand new face amongst the established political figures and his promise to wash politics of corruption attracted younger voters disillusioned with the previous political order.
Khan grew to become prime minister in 2018 on a wave of common assist, an anti-corruption manifesto, and the backing of the highly effective navy institution.
At the identical time, his embrace of conservative Islam and anti-Western rhetoric – significantly aimed toward the United States – chimed with influential spiritual conservatives.
Khan’s philanthropy additionally received him lots of plaudits. He based the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, a most cancers centre with places in Lahore and Peshawar that gives free most cancers take care of the majority of sufferers.
During his tenure, Pakistan recorded some of the lowest COVID-19 charges in South Asia, and a poverty-alleviation programme helped alleviate the financial hardships introduced by the pandemic.
Khan was faraway from energy in a no-confidence movement final April after his allies and a few of the PTI MPs abandoned. He maintained that his authorities was introduced down by the highly effective navy. The military has denied the prices.
However, since then his reputation has soared after he blamed the vote on a US-backed conspiracy and he turned in opposition to the institution – a euphemism for the navy. His fiery, animated speeches drew hundreds of supporters onto the streets.
His assist was additional strengthened after he was shot in the leg at a rally in November 2022. Khan would later accuse the navy chief of being behind a plot to assassinate him. He has not supplied any proof of his allegations.
When did Khan enter politics?
Khan entered politics in 1996, founding the PTI and shunning his playboy picture. He emerged as a charismatic politician who ultimately managed to topple the two established political dynasties that had dominated Pakistan for many years.
Khan moulded himself as a politician that would deal with longstanding corruption in the nation and promised bold plans to strengthen the rule of regulation.
Before politics, Khan loved an immensely profitable cricket profession during which he led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup.
