That the Supreme Court bench hearing Mr Imran Khan’s appeal against the Islamabad session court’s decision convicting him of corrupt practices observed that there were shortcomings in the judgement of the court, but refused to interefere in the case before a decision by the Islamabad High Court, which is to hear the case on Tuesday (today). This is the first relief afforded to Mr Khan since before his conviction, but it did not result in his release. Indeed, considering the number of cases against him, it is not likely that he will be released anytime soon. He may either have his conviction quashed, and obtain bail from the Islamabad High Court, or even if his conviction is upheld, get bail rom the Supreme Court, as Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial’ remarks seemed to hint at.
However, Mr Khan can then be arrested in an array of cases, ranging from the one registered against him under the Official Secrets Act. to the unexplained assets case NAB has against him over the £190 million allegedly given back to property tycoon Malik Riaz in exchange for the land for the Al-Qadir University. The initial difficulty, as on May 9, or even of his latest arrest, was getting hold of him. Now, as has been demonstrated in the case of so many PTI leaders, when he is bailed in one case, as soon as he is released from jail, he will be rearrested in another case. Another door seems to have closed on him, if it was ever really open, and that is the possibility of a presidential pardon. That is because it seems President Arif Alvi seems to be getting into hotter water with each passing day over his claim not to have signed two bills before they became law. At the beginning of last year, the PTI formed the federal, two provincial, and the AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan government. It has lost them all, and only retains the Presidency. After the latest rumpus, that seems to have become increasingly shaky.
The immediate future for the PTI does not look very bright. With a general election not that far away, Mr Khan’s importance as the party’s main campaigner has been enhanced, what with the exodus from the party of most of its next-tier leaders, after the May 9 incidents, but the possibility of his release seems to retreat, while his associates find themselves having to leave whatever positions of influence they still hold.
