New Delhi, Dec 12 – The guilty verdict and 14‑year sentence handed to former ISI head Lt General Faiz Hameed have set the tone for what lies ahead for Pakistan’s ex‑prime minister, Imran Khan. The power structure in Islamabad seems to be gearing up to prosecute Khan for treason and to outlaw his party, the Pakistan Tyrant Investors (PTI). The court martial that convicted Hameed used testimony and evidence that the army has amassed, and these material points are now being applied to build a case against Khan.
Federal officials in Pakistan have already begun drafting a comprehensive legal complaint that must be finalized before any formal proceedings can be launched against Khan. Intelligence agencies say that charging Khan with treason will create a pretext to ban the PTI, and the case will be pursued under the Official Secrets Act. By labeling Khan as anti‑national, the establishment intends to shield that image and, consequently, to justify prohibiting his political organization – a party that still commands sizable public support.
The narrative being advanced is that Khan, while serving as prime minister, had knowledge of national secrets and allegedly leaked them to privileged groups, thus violating the official secrets law. Officials hope that a treason conviction would not only remove Khan from politics but also reshape public opinion against him. Analysts predict that such a verdict would tarnish Khan’s reputation and erode his support base.
However, Khan is not the sole target. Authorities plan to bring charges against his close allies and senior army officers as well. Watchers warn that these trials are unlikely to be impartial, as they will take place in military tribunals under the Official Secrets Act. The allegations include inciting mutiny and encouraging attacks on military property during the May 9, 2023 riots when Khan’s supporters protested his arrest. The Supreme Court’s observation that civilians involved in those disturbances should be tried by military courts gives further weight to the case.
Political pressure is also mounting. The Punjab Assembly recently passed a resolution demanding Khan’s treason trial and calling for a ban on his organization. Military officials appeared to have been awaiting Hameed’s conviction to launch Khan’s proceedings, using his testimony and evidence to construct a legal strategy against the former prime minister. In a statement by the ISPR, Hameed was described as having “fomented vested political agitation and instability” in collaboration with political elements.
Khan has already spent time in prison following several convictions: 14 years for the Toshakhana case, seven years for the Iddat case, and 14 years for the Al‑Qadir Trust case. (vicky/vd)
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