PTI’s real test starts amid crackdown

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was successful in the first round of its confrontation with the government as party chief Imran Khan was released from the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) with the support of the superior judiciary.

However, now there is a debate as to who will prevail in the second round of this confrontation as a massive crackdown is under way against the party leadership and workers for instigating and carrying out attacks on state properties and military installations in the wake of Imran’s arrest on May 9.

Former premier Imran is facing several challenges as he is fighting for his political survival.

PTI leaders are claiming that they are receiving messages from the “powerful circles” to leave the PTI immediately. However, they have not yet been asked to join any other political party. Some experts believe the role of the superior courts will be crucial once again in pulling the PTI out of this mess.

According to sources, after his fiery speeches against the country’s powerful military, the superior judiciary is also apprehensive about coming to the rescue of Imran and his party in these difficult times.

The judiciary’s pro-PTI section is upset over Imran’s speeches after his release, they said. The PTI’s second-tier leaders also have reservations about the party chairman’s aggressive policy towards the country's military.

They also wonder why Imran asked his team to end negotiations with the ruling coalition on holding elections in the country on the same day.

A senior PTI leader said the negotiators could reach an agreement on dissolution of the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies if Imran had allowed the party’s negotiating team to hold one more meeting with the government team.

The party leader said perhaps the PTI chief was more interested in a judicial action against the top government functionaries over the failure to implement the Supreme Court’s April 4 order to hold Punjab Assembly elections on May 14.

It has also been learnt that some party leaders, who were close to Imran in the past, were no longer showing confidence in his political strategy. They are also objecting to the involvement of the PTI chief’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, in political decision-making.

Read more: May 9 vandalism part of ‘well-planned conspiracy’ to eliminate PTI: Imran

Sources said Aamer Mehmood Kiani, who had recently left the PTI, was already expressing his disappointment over the conduct of the party leadership. A PTI leader admitted that the “powerful circles” are still dominant over the party as the latter has no card up its sleeve to stand up to them.

He, however, believed that Imran still has massive support in the public and his vote bank is intact.

Besides, so far no PTI electable has left the party. It is yet to be seen how much pressure PTI leaders can sustain. The PTI chief is trying to attract the attention of the international audience towards the military’s alleged policy to suppress his party.

More than 60 US lawmakers have recently written a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking him to exert pressure on the Pakistani government to address the worsening human rights situation in the country.

Some legal experts believe that if military courts hold trials of civilians involved in May 9 attacks on army installations, the European Union (EU) will swing into action. The development might affect the GSP+ trade agreement between Pakistan and the EU.

Therefore, one section within the government is also opposing trials in military courts under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952. Some lawyers also expect that superior courts will suspend military court proceedings against civilians.

A PTI lawyer said a strong reaction will come from international rights organisations as well as the country’s superior courts whenever military courts start trials under the army act. These reactions will help in ending dominance of the powerful circles, he said.

The PTI claims Imran Khan has been offered the opportunity to leave the country but he has refused. Some political analysts said Imran’s inability to engage other political forces is a major advantage to these circles.

Currently, there is a complete lack of trust between Imran and other political leaders.

There are very slim chances that the PTI chief will take the initiative of starting talks with any other political force at a time when he is facing a tough time.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial will resume on Monday the hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) review petition against the apex court’s April 4 order for holding polls in Punjab on May 14.

The proceedings will show whether or not the judges are still willing to rescue Imran. Currently, the former premier is facing several cases in different courts of the country.

No amendment

The government will not make any amendment to the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 in order to try the miscreants who attacked the military installations on May 9.

A senior government official revealed to The Express Tribune that civilians will be tried in military courts under the existing law and there will be no new amendment in law.

“Those who were involved in setting fire to toll plazas and police vehicles will be tried under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). Likewise, the PPC will be applied to one category of accused. However, those who were involved in attacks on military installations will be tried under the army act,” he said.

The official claims that there are more than a dozen judgments of the high court which establish that suspects involved in damaging the military properties will be tried under the army act which has been applicable for the last seven decades.

Another lawyer said if these people are not tried then international actors will raise questions on the security of the nuclear programme. He hoped that the superior judiciary would avoid involvement in matters related to security.