Experts don’t foresee imminent end to Imran's political career

Political analysts see sentence in illegal marriage case as 'the unkindest cut of all'

KARACHI:

Political analysts have rejected the notion of an imminent end to the political career of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, Imran Khan, along with his party. They suggest that a recent verdict may have been strategically aimed at disappointing PTI voters, echoing historical patterns of attempts to undermine political parties in Pakistan.

Naveed Hussain, Chief Editor of The Express Tribune, shared his insights on the Express News talk show "Experts," emphasising that such attempts to dismantle political parties, like PTI, have historically failed in Pakistan.

Drawing parallels to instances such as the judicial assassination of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the exile of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, Hussain highlighted that both PPP and PML-N continue to play significant roles in Pakistani politics today.

بانی پی ٹی آئی کا" کم بیک" یقینی ہوگیا؟ وجہ کیا ہے؟ تجزیہ کار نوید حسین کا بڑا انکشاف@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/hBeAFvLTr1

— Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024

Quoting Shakespeare's "the unkindest cut of all", Hussain drew attention to the recent judgment on the illegal marriage case of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, criticising the intrusion into a woman's private life within the judicial process.

Read also: Experts don't foresee 'independent' candidate becoming PM post-election

Hussain expressed concern that this case differs in nature from others, implying that Khan may be facing targeted political revenge.

Ayaz Khan, the Group Editor of Express News, shared his opinion that the issuance of judgments against Khan and Bushra Bibi before the election might have aimed to disillusion voters. However, he noted that the voters remain intact, questioning the need for such a case to be entertained when it had been dismissed multiple times before.

بانی پی ٹی آئی کو سزا، تجزیہ کار ایاز خان غمزدہ کیوں؟ اہم شخصیت نے مقبولیت سروے کے حوالے سے کیا بتایا، سنیے اہم تجزیہ@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/KjxnVGQRvg

— Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024

Faisal Hussain, Express News Karachi's Bureau Chief, expressed hope that if this decision does not proceed to court, it would be beneficial for Pakistan and its political history. He remarked that Imran Khan's political influence had already been curtailed with restrictions on his election campaign.

Amir Ilyas Rana, Express News Islamabad Bureau Chief, expressed satisfaction with the court decision against Imran Khan and his wife, accusing them and Bushra’s ex-husband Khawar Maneka of dishonesty.

طاقت کا نشہ یا کچھ اور： ن لیگ کیا کچھ کررہی ہے، سنیے
تجزیہ کار فیصل حسین سے@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/3UF8UFylwU

— Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024

“After six years, Imran Khan acknowledged the date of his marriage as reported by a journalist, on which the journalist had faced criticism and trolling. Khan should have apologised to the journalist,” Rana suggested.

The Islamabad bureau chief asserted if Nawaz Sharif is asked for a money trail even after being acquitted by the courts, then Khan should also clear his position. “Being a prime minister nothing is personal,” he added.

پی ٹی آئی کے کارکنوں اور ووٹرز کو کیسے اپنا غصہ نکالنا چاہیے؟ تین بڑے جھوٹے کون ، تجزیہ کار عامر الیاس رانا نے بتادیا@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/9bjElkXuaB

— Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024

Mohammad Ilyas, Express News Bureau Chief Lahore, emphasised the impermanence of political situations. He believed that when the time comes, Khan will devise a policy to address the current challenges in his political career.

سیاسی جماعتوں کے انتخابی وعدے، عوام نے اس بار کیا فیصلہ کرلیا،
تجزیہ کار محمد الیاس نے اہم خبر دے دی@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/7G1HmfZqzo

— Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024