Pakistan Reader# 606, 3 June 2023
Varsha K
This is a new section looking at the ongoing political crisis in Pakistan, starting with the arrest of Imran Khan, subsequent violence on 9 May by PTI cadres targeting the Establishment, relief to Imran by the judiciary, response by the government and the Establishment, and the exodus within the PTI. This section provides a daily brief on the political crisis.
On 2 June, following the continuous exodus of PTI leaders, Former Punjab CM Usman Buzdar announced his resignation from politics without mentioning whether he is also departing from the party. However, he said: “Keeping in view the situation in the country — we have always done the politics of virtue and encourage it. But in the present political situation, I have decided to quit politics.” He expressed his enduring support to Pakistan Army.
On 2 June, Imran Khan appeared before the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court as the previous bail period ended. Salman Safdar, PTI’s chief lawyer, assured Imran Khan's presence before JIT for investigation and asked the court to fix all cases to be heard on 20 June. At the end of the hearing, Judge ljaz Ahmad Buttar extended the bail in four cases till 13 June. Additionally, Imran Khan has been granted bail till 6 June in the case of a PTI worker’s death.
PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was detained again by Gujranwala Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) after Lahore Court released him from a corruption case. Previously, he was arrested on 1 June after multiple failed riads. During the hearing, the court mentioned that there was no “well-founded” evidence against Elahi for which it notified to undergo investigation further. Subsequently, PTI alleged that “fake cases” were being filed against Elahi to pressurize him to quit the party. Besides that, PTI leader Sheikh Waqas Akram was filed under the case of allegedly provoking people against the state by releasing a video on the day of Imran Khan’s arrest. Following this, Jhang's Kotwali policemen raided the Sheikh’s residence, butmthey could not find him.
Other Institutions/ Developements
Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Aimal Wali Khan requested the release of PTI workers from prison. Further, he was upset that PTI leaders quitting the party were released and forgiven, whereas the PTI workers were still in jail and remarked: “Such discrimination is unacceptable.” He alleged that PTI leaders were involved in corruption and iterated that they should be held “accountable for corruption” in the first place.
On 2 June, Former PTI Sindh senior vice president Mahmood Moulvi ensured that the result of the meeting between PTI deserters and PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi will be seen “within two days.” Further, he mentioned Khan being adamant despite the exodus of leaders and positively said: “No matter how many people leave, anyone who gets the PTI's ticket will win elections.”