On Saturday, police arrested former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan after a court sentenced him to three years in prison.
The verdict was given in connection with the Toshokhnana corruption case. He faces three years in prison and a five-year ban from running for office for illegally selling state gifts.
The move follows Imran Khan's previous arrest in May, which could disqualify him from running in the next elections this year and could have disastrous consequences for the country already in turmoil. turmoil on many fronts.
When Khan served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, he allegedly sold many gifts received from foreign dignitaries at a higher price, which was essentially illegal as they had to be stored in Toshakhana according to Pakistani law. In particular, this mistake by Khan could cost him dearly at this time with the Pakistani government expected to be dissolved soon, which will likely lead to elections in the country. this is right this year.
Imran Khan's failure to run for the election could mean giving up active politics and giving up his chance to lead the country again, leaving an easy seat for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
It will therefore preserve the status quo of military-government links, which will expose Khan to the flames he faces today.
Earlier this year, when Khan was arrested in May, contrary to what many members of his opposition parties and the Pakistani military believed, his supporters reacted wildly with protests. love and arson attacks across the country for weeks.
This tactic seemed to have worked when Khan was later released, but the devastation caused was alarming for the state because it had previously underestimated the reaction of his supporters. Following this event, the slow dissolution of the Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaf political party of Imran Khan and his confidants and the shock of violence against many of his supporters have so far drawn protests. Respond calmly and silently. However, how long this will last remains uncertain, as the arrest, its potential motives, and subsequent consequences remain unclear.
With Sharif's arrest of his biggest rival likely to mean his hopes of forming a government in an election, most likely in November, is little hope for the already chaotic country.
There was little change internally in Pakistan and the military itself was fractured and confused. Imran's vocal criticism of the military has attracted public scrutiny for a long time, and she must also save face. Although it is known that Pakistan's military establishment rules over the many levels that make up the Pakistani government base, if sooner or later a healthy balance is not achieved, Imran Khan's words may imply pictures of them, whether he's behind bars or not. or not.
The incompetence of Pakistan's political leadership is also evident, as it seems the country's political woes never end. Public confidence in the authorities also seems to be very low with repeated protests, strikes, and arrests.
What is perhaps even worse for Pakistan is that all these ills must be addressed at a time when the economy is in the depths of the abyss and the current economic difficulties can only be exacerbated if The unrest that arose due to Imran Khan's arrest and continued as it did in May.
