Editorial
The PML(N)-led coalition government’s continued suppression of opposition leaders and the PTI has sparked widespread criticism. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other leaders and activists of the main opposition party have been at the receiving end of this. Imran Khan and his spouse were recently acquitted in the Iddat case, only to be arraigned in a new Toshakhana case, leading to their eight-day physical remand from an accountability court. Additionally, a Lahore police team sought to re-arrest Khan on fresh terrorism charges related to last year’s May 9 violence, including the attack on the Lahore Corps Commander’s House.
Despite Imran Khan already being indicted in over 150 cases, including the May 9 incident, the government has initiated a slew of fresh cases with the apparent intention of prolonging his incarceration. Prominent members of the ruling party have openly stated their intentions to implicate their principal political rival in fabricated legal cases, with discussions about the need to keep Khan in jail for economic progress and stability.
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The government’s aggressive decision to impose a ban on PTI and seek legal action against key PTI figures under Article 6 of the Constitution following the recent Supreme Court verdict in the reserved seats case has been met with widespread backlash. The move has been condemned by independent observers and politicians, including former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and members of the PPP, a partner in the ruling coalition. The attempt to ban PTI and carry out a trial of a political leader for treason has been labeled as “rubbish and unsustainable” and has been seen as exacerbating the existing political crisis.
While the PPP has sought to distance itself from certain statements and opinions, it’s evident that the government’s actions are receiving significant criticism and could potentially lead to further complications, including embarrassing outcomes in the Supreme Court and a loss of public support. The government’s abuse of power and its handling of the situation has raised serious concerns about the state of democracy in the country and is viewed as a self-imposed crisis.
