Imran Khan’s turbulent political journey
You may either admire him or despise him, but ignoring him isn’t an option. Imran Khan is a central figure around whom politics revolves, following in the footsteps of Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. The upcoming election will determine whether he maintains this status or fades from the political scene.
Formerly hailed as the establishment’s favored candidate, ex-prime minister Imran Khan now stands on the periphery as his nomination papers for the 2024 elections rejected, and his party in disarray.
Imran initially gained prominence as a cricketer, notably steering the national team to its sole ODI World Cup triumph in 1992. After retirement, he engaged himself in charitable endeavors then established the PTI in 1996. His political achievements remained modest until 2011.
It was 2012 when he began to resonate with dissatisfied youth, galvanized by rampant corruption and a mounting unemployment epidemic. After the 2013 elections, Imran claimed extensive rigging, prompting a prolonged sit-in protest in Islamabad, which he halted after the tragic assault on the Army Public School in Peshawar.
Entry into Power Corridors:
Due to nationwide acceptance plus support from influential corridors he enjoyed triumph in the general elections and was sworn in as the nation’s 22nd prime minister on August 18, 2018.
Elected on pledges to ensure transparency and establish a welfare state, Imran quickly faced significant hurdles, including the Covid-19 pandemic, soaring inflation, escalating deficits, and rifts within his own coalition. Tensions with the establishment, accused by his adversaries of propelling him to power, escalated, notably over the selection of a new intelligence chief in October 2021, leading to a standoff between the government and military leadership.
Ouster from Power:
In a bid to unseat him, opposition parties united under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which promptly initiated a no-confidence motion. Following dissent within his party during the pivotal vote, Imran’s tenure as prime minister concluded shortly after midnight on April 10, 2022.
Afterward, Imran instructed his party members to resign from their positions in the National Assembly and declared the dissolution of the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, aiming to pressure the ruling PDM coalition into holding early elections—a strategy that yielded no results.
Growing increasingly frustrated, Imran publicly criticized the US and former army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, accusing them of conspiring against him. In the months following his ousting from power, the former PTI leader managed to avoid arrest on multiple occasions in various legal cases.
Agitation
In October 2022, Imran initiated a lengthy march to Islamabad for “Haqeeqi Azadi” (true freedom), vehemently condemning Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum and demanding the resignation of two other intelligence officials.
During his long march towards Islamabad, an assassination attempt was made on him in Wazirabad, resulting in multiple bullet wounds to his leg. Imran subsequently called off the march, citing the need to prevent “imminent bloodshed.”
In 2023, Imran intensified his accusations, reiterating his claims that a serving intelligence official was behind the assassination attempt on his life and holding
Arrest, Trial, disqualification
On May 9, 2022, Imran was apprehended from the vicinity of the Islamabad judicial complex in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, triggering immediate and violent protests. Termed a “black Day” by the military, the unrest persisted for two days, with infuriated PTI supporters taking to the streets and targeting various military installations, including the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander.
The government swiftly responded by arresting several PTI leaders in the ensuing days, some of whom remain incarcerated. Although Imran was subsequently granted bail per the Supreme Court’s directive, the party’s decline had commenced.
He faced another arrest on August 5 in the Toshakhana case, leading to a three-year sentence. Additionally, he was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan for five years and stripped of his party chairmanship.
Although the Islamabad High Court later suspended his sentence, Imran remains detained while confronting other legal proceedings, including the cipher case, where he and party vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi stand accused of violating the Official Secrets Act.
Despite filing nomination papers for two National Assembly seats in the forthcoming elections—NA-89 (Mianwali) and NA-122 (Lahore)—his candidacy was rejected due to his conviction in the Toshakhana case.
As the curtains draw on the 2024 election, the spotlight on Imran Khan’s performance illuminates both praise and critique. All surveys indicates an upward trend in Imran Khan’s popularity, but the crucial question is that will this popularity translate into votes at the ballot box, especially in a scenario when he is not leading the campaign and party’s organizational structure is in jeopardy .
Another dilemma is that all his candidates are contesting as independent. After winning the seats they will be easy prey of Khan’s powerful opponents.
With his fate now in the hands of the electorate, the nation awaits the verdict that will shape the trajectory of Pakistan’s political landscape. Whether he emerges victorious or faces a new chapter, the echoes of this election will resonate far beyond its immediate outcome, echoing through the corridors of power and shaping the future of the nation.
