Experts say ban on Imran Khan’s party ‘unlikely’ to be approved by Pakistan top court

Supporters of Pakistan's former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party leader Imran Khan, celebrate after a court verdict overturned his illegal marriage conviction, outside the court building in Islamabad on July 13, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 16 July 2024
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Experts say ban on Imran Khan’s party ‘unlikely’ to be approved by Pakistan top court

  • Article 17 of constitution says government has to refer decision to ban a party to Supreme Court for final decision
  • Experts say ban announcement latest effort by a weak governing coalition to squash Khan’s political popularity

ISLAMABAD: The federal government’s plans to push for a ban on former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was “unlikely” to be sanctioned by the Supreme Court and could be seen as a latest attempt to dent the popularity of the ex-premier and his party, political observers said this week.

Pakistan’s federal government announced on Monday it was planning to ban Khan’s political party and move the country’s Supreme Court to press high treason charges against him. The decision to ban the PTI was based on what Information Minister Ataullah Tara said was the “proven” charge of the party receiving foreign funding, which is illegal in Pakistan, rioting by its supporters last year that targeted military properties and because Khan had leaked state secrets by disclosing the contents of a classified diplomatic cable for political gains in what has come to be popularly called the cipher case. 

Under Article 17 of the Pakistani constitution, “should the Federal Government declare any political party as acting against these interests, it must refer the matter to the Supreme Court within fifteen days for a final decision.”

Several analysts Arab News spoke to agreed that it was unlikely that the decision to ban the PTI would be upheld in court and reflected an attempt by the federal government to assert its authority after a general election marred by accusations of rigging against the broadly popular PTI. The party won more seats than any other in the election despite what it says is a crackdown on its candidates and supporters and has become ever-more popular since Khan was ousted in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022.

“This move will probably backfire as it is the Supreme Court that will finally decide … and if the court does not see robust, solid evidence in support of declaring it unlawful, which I do not think they have, then probably the government will not succeed,” Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president of the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency (PILDAT) think tank, told Arab News.

“I do not think this will materially affect the PTI as long as there are people supporting the party, as long as there are people who love the party, who stand beside it.”

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a former close Khan aide, agreed. 

“The move is highly unlikely to succeed as under Article 17, government recommendations have to be approved by the SC and the likelihood of its approval is almost null,” he said. 

“BAD OPTICS”

The ban announcement comes in the wake of the PTI winning a number of important legal battles. Among four cases in which Khan was convicted and has been jailed since August last year, two have been suspended by courts since and he has been acquitted in the others, though new cases have since been brought against him. Arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, Khan says all cases against him are motivated to keep him out of politics and behind bars.

Last week, the PTI also won a major victory when the Supreme Court declared that the party was eligible for over 20 extra reserved seats in parliament, which has stripped the governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of its two-thirds majority in parliament, weakening an already fragile government that is widely believed to lack mass popular support.

All PTI candidates contested the Feb. 8 elections as independents after the party was barred from the polls on the technical grounds that it did not hold genuine intra-party polls, which is a legal requirement. Subsequently, they won the most seats in the national election, 93, but the election commission said independents were ineligible for their share of 70 reserved seats — 60 for women, 10 for non-Muslims — distributed among political parties in proportion to the number of seats they win in general polls. This completes the National Assembly’s total strength of 336 seats. 

The reserved seats were then distributed among other parties, mostly those in the ruling coalition, a decision Khan’s party appealed. On Friday the Supreme Court ruled that the PTI was indeed a political party for the purposes of the election and entitled to reserved seats. The court has now given the PTI 15 days, starting July 12, to submit its list of candidates entitled to the reserved seats and asked independent candidates to formally declare their allegiance to the PTI. 

Experts said the announcement of the ban could also be seen as the government’s way to discourage successful independent candidates from rejoining Khan’s party. 

“The government may be hoping that because of this announcement, some of the PTI members who currently have to give their affidavit, whether they will join the PTI or not — 41 of them in the National Assembly and about 60 in the Provincial Assemblies — they will get the message that if the party is declared unlawful by the Supreme Court, then they will also stand disqualified,” Mehboob from PILDAT explained, referring to a law that parliamentarians from a particular party stand disqualified if their party is banned. 

Mazhar Abbas, a senior journalist and longtime observer of Pakistani politics, was doubtful a ban on the popular political party could hold. 

“In any adverse situation, the PTI can come out with a new name with a more aggressive posture,” he said.

Chaudhry, the former Khan aide, also cautioned that a ban would weaken the government further as the public, already stirred up over what they saw as a rigged election and trumped-up cases against Khan, would see the ban a “an attempt to sabotage democracy and against the constitution.”

Political analyst Zoya Tariq warned a ban on the PTI or any other political party would have “serious repercussions” for the country.

“This is bad optics and will set a very wrong precedent as all political decisions in a democratic country should be made by the people,” she told Arab News. “It is the moral duty of the current government to take action to maintain stability in the country.”

“This [ban announcement] has caused no worry to PTI,” PTI spokesman Zulfi Bukhari said in a video message to reporters. “It has only demonstrated what we have been trying to say earlier that there is absolute fascism in Pakistan, there is an undeclared martial law in Pakistan.”
 


Finishing touches being put on Pakistan stadiums ahead of ICC Champions Trophy

Updated 9 sec ago
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Finishing touches being put on Pakistan stadiums ahead of ICC Champions Trophy

  • Eight-team 50-overs tournament will be first global competition held in Pakistan in 28 years
  • India will play all their matches in Dubai due to political tensions with the northern neighbor

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) this week allayed fears about the preparedness of the venues for this year’s Champions Trophy as they welcomed media for a tour of Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium on Monday.

Arshad Khan, manager of National Bank Stadium, addresses media persons regarding the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)

The eight-team 50-overs tournament will be the first global competition to be held in Pakistan in 28 years.
India, however, will play all their matches in Dubai due to political tensions with their Northern neighbors.

Laborers work during a media tour, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to showcase the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)

Stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi are being upgraded for the tournament whose success could invite more global tournaments to a country, which was deemed unsafe to tour after a 2009 attack on the visiting Sri Lankan cricketers.

Journalists attend a media tour organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to showcase the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)

“We are in the finishing phase. Our work is almost complete, the finishing touches remain. We will complete it by the end of this month,” PCB director of infrastructure, Qazi Jawad, told Reuters in Lahore.
The stadium’s capacity has been increased to accommodate 35,000 fans while new hospitality areas have also been constructed.

Laborers work during a media tour, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to showcase the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)

Lahore and Karachi will host a tri-nation series involving New Zealand and South Africa next month to prove their readiness for the Champions Trophy beginning on February 19.

Laborers work during a media tour, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to showcase the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)

 


Pakistan air force contingent lands in Saudi Arabia for aerial combat exercise

Updated 19 min 15 sec ago
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Pakistan air force contingent lands in Saudi Arabia for aerial combat exercise

  • Saudi Arabia annually hosts Spears of Victory exercise, with last year’s activity having involved more than 60 aircraft from nine nations
  • This year’s exercise will include participation from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, France, Greece, Qatar, UAE, UK and US

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Air Force contingent comprising JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets and dedicated air and ground crew has landed in Saudi Arabia to participate in the multinational aerial combat exercise, “Spears of Victory-2025,” the Pakistan army said in a statement on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia annually hosts the Spears of Victory exercise, with last year’s activity having involved more than 60 aircraft from nine nations. This year’s exercise will include participation of fighter jets and combat support elements from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, France, Greece, Qatar, UAE, UK and the US. 
“For this International deployment, PAF fighters flew nonstop from home base in Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, carrying out inflight Air-to-Air refueling, showcasing long range employment capabilities of JF-17 Block-III Aircraft,” the Pakistan army’s media wing said. 
During the exercise, PAF pilots flying AESA & Extended Range BVR Equipped JF-17 Thunder jets will be pitched against participating air forces equipped with a wide variety of sophisticated combat aircraft. 
Royal Saudi Air Force is holding the fifth cycle of the exercise, “which provides an excellent opportunity to bolster interoperability within the participating Air Forces in the backdrop of technological advancement, increasing complexity in Airpower application & shared aerial defense challenges,” the army statement said. 
“Participation of Pakistan Air Force contingent in the exercise not only highlights PAF’s commitment to regional & international cooperation but also underscores its capabilities and prowess to operate in diverse and challenging environments among contemporary airforces.”


Outgoing US president Biden turns down clemency request for Pakistani neuroscientist

Updated 49 min 40 sec ago
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Outgoing US president Biden turns down clemency request for Pakistani neuroscientist

  • Siddiqui is serving 86-year jail sentence after being convicted of attempting to shoot group of FBI agents, US soldiers and interpreters
  • US officials say incident took place as FBI agents, soldiers were about to interrogate Siddiqui at Afghan police compound in Ghazni in 2008

KARACHI: The sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist imprisoned in the US, on Tuesday called on supporters not to lose hope after outgoing US President Joe Biden rejected a petition seeking clemency for the jailed academic.
Siddiqui, a US-trained scientist who denies any wrongdoing, was convicted in 2010 and given a 86-year prison sentence for shooting at FBI agents and soldiers after her arrest in Afghanistan. She was arrested in July 2008 by Afghan police, who said she was carrying two pounds (900 grams) of sodium cyanide and crumpled notes referring to mass casualty attacks and New York landmarks.
The day after her arrest, according to the indictment, Siddiqui grabbed an M-4 rifle in her interrogation room and started shooting while yelling “death to America,” the trial jury heard. No US agents or soldiers were hit, but Siddiqui was shot and wounded in response, according to US prosecutors. She was subsequently convicted by a New York federal jury of attempted murder, armed assault and other charges. Siddiqui was never charged with links to terrorism.
Siddiqui’s family says she was visiting Pakistan in 2003 when she was abducted with her three children by Pakistani intelligence officials and handed to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which took her to Afghanistan. Pakistan’s intelligence agencies deny the claims.
“You must all by now have heard the news that our [mercy] petition was denied at the very last moment,” Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, who has been lobbying for years for her sister’s release, said in a video message. 
The rejection comes in response to a 76,500-word dossier submitted by Siddiqui’s lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, urging Biden to grant her clemency before the end of his term.
“We will go onto Plan B and Plan D but not lose hope. Please, I have not lost hope, so all I am asking you is to please stay steadfast, stay with me, join us for Plan B and please continue the support,” Fowzia added.
In October 2024, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also wrote a letter to Biden, calling for Dr. Siddiqui’s release. The letter highlighted concerns about her treatment in prison and warned that her deteriorating physical and mental health could lead to self-harm.
Freeing Siddiqui or winning her repatriation to Pakistan has at times been a popular cause in her homeland, where her trial was seen as unfair.


Eight Chinese Hangor submarines to enter Pakistan fleet ‘very soon’— naval chief

Updated 21 January 2025
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Eight Chinese Hangor submarines to enter Pakistan fleet ‘very soon’— naval chief

  • Joint construction of eight Hangor-class submarines is key project in China-Pakistan naval cooperation
  • Pakistan signed agreement with China to procure eight Hangor-class conventional submarines in 2015

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Pakistan Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, has said this month eight Hangor-class submarines built for Pakistan by China would be included in the South Asian country’s fleet “very soon.”
The joint construction of eight Hangor-class submarines is a key project in China-Pakistan naval cooperation. This type of submarine is equipped with the latest weapons and sensors and with an air independent propulsion (AIP) system on board, the submarine has significantly enhanced submerged endurance capabilities.
Pakistan signed a contract with China to procure eight Hangor-class conventional submarines in 2015, with the first four to be constructed by China and the other four to be assembled by Pakistan under a technology transfer agreement. The plan was that Pakistan will obtain the eight advanced submarines between 2022 and 2028. In December 2021, the fifth Hangor-class conventional submarine, also the first one built in Pakistan, officially received a steel cutting ceremony. 
In an interview to China’s Global Times newspaper this month, Ashraf said the Hangor-class submarines would “significantly enhance” Pakistan’s naval capabilities, improving stealth, maneuverability and firepower.
“The project is proceeding as per the timeline. We expect that these submarines will join the Pakistan Navy fleet very soon,” Ashraf said.
The initial Hangor delivery timetable would have seen the four Chinese-built submarines delivered by 2023. But there have been widespread reports that Germany had refused to approve export licenses for its MTU 396 diesel engine, which the submarine was designed to use. The German government had also declined to grant export licenses for its engines in regard to Thailand’s order of the S-26T, a variant of the Chinese Type 039B submarine. The Thai deal eventually fell through.
Neither Germany nor Pakistan have confirmed whether export clearance was ultimately approved or denied.
When Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) ordered the eight submarines from China in 2015 at an approximate cost of $4–5 billion, it was the largest arms export contract in China’s military history.


Imran Khan party to boycott talks with Pakistan government unless truth commissions announced

Updated 21 January 2025
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Imran Khan party to boycott talks with Pakistan government unless truth commissions announced

  • First round of talks aimed at cooling political instability took place on Dec. 23 with follow ups on Jan. 2 and 16
  • Pakistani court last week sentenced Khan to 14 years jail in a land corruption case, a setback to nascent talks

ISLAMABAD: Salman Akram Raja, a lawyer and close aide of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, said the jailed leader had told the party not to participate in the next session of ongoing reconciliatory talks with the Pakistan government unless it announced judicial commissions into accusations Khan’s party and supporters had led violent protests. 
The first round of talks aimed at cooling political instability in the 241-million South Asian nation took place between Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the government on Dec. 23, with follow up talks on Jan. 2 and 16. 
The PTI party’s demands to the government mainly include the release of all political prisoners including Khan, and the formation of two judicial commissions to probe into the events which led to his arrest in August 2023, and violent protest rallies, including one on May 9, when PTI supporters rampaged through military offices and installations, and a second one on Nov. 26 in which the government says four troops were killed. 
A Pakistani court last week sentenced Khan to 14 years imprisonment in a land corruption case, a setback to the nascent talks’ process. 
“He [Khan] has said we will not play committee-committee,” Raja told reporters after meeting Khan at the Rawalpindi Adiala prison on Monday.
“Our demands that judicial commissions be formed, if commissions are not announced into the events of May 9 and Nov. 26, then we will not sit in the next round [of talks].”

The talks opened last month as Khan had threatened a civil disobedience movement and amid growing concerns he could face trial by a military court for allegedly inciting attacks on sensitive security installations during the May 9 protests.
The negotiations also began two days after 25 civilians were sentenced by a military court to periods of two to 10 years of “rigorous imprisonment” in connection with attacks on military facilities on May 9, 2023. Just days later on Dec. 26, another 60 civilians were sentenced by a military court to jail time ranging from 2 to 10 years in connection with the May 9 attacks.
Khan’s first arrest in May 2023 in the land graft case in which he was sentenced last week sparked countrywide protests that saw his supporters attack and ransack military installations in an unprecedented backlash against Pakistan’s powerful army generals. Although Khan was released days later, he was rearrested in August that year after being convicted in a corruption case. He remains in prison and says all cases against him are politically motivated.
Protests demanding Khan’s release in November also turned violent, with the PTI saying 12 supporters were killed while the state said four troops had died.