The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) advised the founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan to hold dialogue with rival political parties to resolve what Khan perceives is going on in the country.
Given the existing political situation, the SC’s advice sounds positive but how it will be acted upon is a question. After this advice came to the surface, the PTI has also reportedly started work in this regard. Will this party truly act upon this advice and prove some logical ending to it is a question that persists.
A five five-member bench of the SC advised Khan on Thursday to initiate dialogue with politicians. It was by at least three honorable judges of this bench directly and indirectly as the other members of this bench didn’t reportedly raise any objection to this advice by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Athar Minallah. Justices Aminuddin Khan and Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi are also part of this learned bench. It came when the court was hearing the government’s intra-court appeal against the SC’s decision in the NAB Ordinance amendment. The PTI’s founder was also present via video link.
Khan this way presence in the court spoke for nearly 40 minutes. He spoke on the concerned case and the court also directed him to stay focused on the actual case but even so he spoke on other matters. He alleged that he was being oppressed and citing the circumstance he said the country is under undeclared martial law. He said this despite the situation being graver when he was the prime minister of Pakistan.
Justice Mandokhail noted that Khan’s statement was scaring him. He advised Khan should sit with fellow politicians and resolve the issues if the situation was so risky as was stated by Khan. He observed that when there was fire it would not matter if the water was pure or un-pure; the fire had to be extinguished first. “Lead your group. You’re looking up to us and we look up to you,” Justice Mandokhail noted.
The judge further said that if God forbid, something was to happen to the country, the responsibility would be upon the politicians and not up on the judges. Khan said that Pakistan was suffering an economic crisis. Referring to the circumstances, Justice Minallah remarked that it was unfortunate that at this time Khan was in jail. He observed the PTI founder was the head of a large party with millions of followers.
Imran said his last hope was the Supreme Court. Justice Mandokhail remarked, “We have complaints against politicians.” Justice Minallah told Khan his party had boycotted parliament and if he had been in the parliament, the NAB law could have been improved. Khan in response admitted that quitting parliament was a mistake. “It is true, I should have gone to parliament,” the CJP observed particularly on this point. Justice Minallah said instead of looking at the judges, politicians should resolve the problems among themselves. Justice Mandokhail questioned what would happen if God forbid the politicians failed.
However, about this advice of the court, there are reports that the PTI at the direction of its founder is writing a letter to the Supreme Court in this regard. The letter reportedly will speak on its allegations that its mandate was stolen in the general election of 2024 and that May 9 was a false flag operation. The PTI has also reportedly formed a committee to discuss with the ruling parties the release of Khan from Jail, return its allegedly stolen mandate take back the May 9 cases, and not go for new cases. Is it something new that the PTI wants to negotiate? Is anybody convinced that the agenda of the talks will end up with some happy-happy ending? Every political party says it is ready for talks but talk to what is not clear.
If the tasks are about bringing the PTI back into power after so far what has happened and is continuing even today between the PTI and the military establishment and government looks like nothing more than a laughing stock. Is it possible that the state will bring Khan out of jail as a goodwill gesture and let him do the agitated politics on roads when the economy is a priority agenda? Is this government in a position to hold talks with the PTI and then reach some point that would be acceptable to both the PTI and the military establishment? Is May 9 a false flag operation and will anybody, particularly is going to buy this argument and whoever has this opinion? So far it looks like the military is clear that no forgiveness for the executioners, perpetrators, facilitators, and collaborators of May 9, and that at any cost.
Letters of Mr. Khan to the IMF and international media outlets are not something to which the concerned will keep their eyes closed. The has clearly said that no negotiations with PTI on its possible agenda. If the agenda is not what the PTI has been talking about since it came out of power then what it wishes to negotiate? Has ever Mr. Khan and his party been able to reach some logical conclusion in the past through its committees for negotiations with the government? There is no single evidence available in this regard.
Will PTI stop its social media campaigns against the state institutions stop playing Hamood ur Rehman Commission and be ready to respect the courts and judges in the future? It may not happen at all because there are no chances for it to return to power. The relationship between the judiciary and the military establishment, between the government and the judiciary, and between the military and government is surely not a hidden factor that has multiple examples throwing light on these sweet relationships.
Why this honorable court has advised Mr. Khan knowing well the circumstances to negotiate is best known by this court. The possibility remains that the court is well aware of the circumstances and its possible outcomes, but is not ready to take the responsibility and is shifting this all to the politicians. If this is the case then obviously politicians are responsible and of them, PTI is currently taking the lead, but the hopes should remain that no new experiment based on personal interests will made in Pakistan. it belongs to all and everyone should play their role and responsibilities for a strong and better Pakistan for all.
(Senior journalist Rana Kashif has authored this article
