Big question in Pakistan’s political remains what will happen to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) if its Chairman Imran Khan is convicted in contempt of court case. Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued him a contempt notice on remarks he made in a series of press conferences in last week. He particularly lashed out at Supreme Court and election Commission of Pakistan after presidential elections on 30th July. Supreme Court came under severe criticism by opposition politicians after it passed an order to change the date of presidential elections without hearing presidential candidates. Pakistan People’s Party boycotted the polls and PTI announced to participate “Under Protest”. Imran Khan has been summoned by apex court on August 2, 2013 on Friday. Although news about possible conviction created stir on social media but PTI camp seems calm and composed. Legal think tank of PTI is of view that Chairman has not conducted any contempt because his criticism was constructive in nature and was directed to the role of returning officers during general elections 2013. “Imran Khan has criticized the role of Returning Officers who were not performing the judicial duties while holding the May 11 elections” Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin Ahmad said. He was party candidate in presidential elections as well. PTI senior leaders said that Imran Khan will not have any ego problem facing Supreme Court judges and will try to convince them about his point of view. Judges normally accept apologies in contempt cases but there are also instances of conviction in similar cases. There are mixed views about contempt notice served upon him by Apex Court. Some are of the view that Imran Khan was continuously criticizing judiciary and was leveling charges of rigging against him. Others say that Khan is right in his concerns over massive rigging in elections. It is expected that common sense will prevail and Imran Khan will adopt a decent behavior when appearing before judges and will not try to level charges of partiality and bias. It is further expected that he will not raise any objection of composition of the bench as well. However, question still remains the same. What will happen if PTI Chairman Imran Khan is convicted in contempt of court case? Legal experts say he may face five years disqualification from parliament membership and party’s chairmanship. Although unlikely, but such a decision will serve a fatal blow to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf which has rose to prominence after seventeen years of struggle and became the second largest party of the country based on number of votes obtained during general elections. PTI has 36 members in National Assembly with representation in three provincial assemblies as well. However, despite the presence of seasoned politicians like Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Javed Hashmi, and Jahangir Tarin no leader is poised enough to take responsibilities of Imran Khan. Disqualification of Imran Khan will mean that PTI will find itself difficult to stay united as most of his lawmakers are very new in power corridors. They may have tendency to leave apart ideological politics and join traditional politics. If Imran Khan is disqualified, PTI will find itself in same position as it was in 1996. - See more at: http://pakistantribune.com.pk/3567/if-imran-khan-is-disqualified.html#sthash.jhYK3C8v.dpuf
Friday, August 2, 2013
If Imran Khan is Disqualified
Big question in Pakistan’s political remains what will happen to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) if its Chairman Imran Khan is convicted in contempt of court case. Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued him a contempt notice on remarks he made in a series of press conferences in last week. He particularly lashed out at Supreme Court and election Commission of Pakistan after presidential elections on 30th July. Supreme Court came under severe criticism by opposition politicians after it passed an order to change the date of presidential elections without hearing presidential candidates. Pakistan People’s Party boycotted the polls and PTI announced to participate “Under Protest”. Imran Khan has been summoned by apex court on August 2, 2013 on Friday. Although news about possible conviction created stir on social media but PTI camp seems calm and composed. Legal think tank of PTI is of view that Chairman has not conducted any contempt because his criticism was constructive in nature and was directed to the role of returning officers during general elections 2013. “Imran Khan has criticized the role of Returning Officers who were not performing the judicial duties while holding the May 11 elections” Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin Ahmad said. He was party candidate in presidential elections as well. PTI senior leaders said that Imran Khan will not have any ego problem facing Supreme Court judges and will try to convince them about his point of view. Judges normally accept apologies in contempt cases but there are also instances of conviction in similar cases. There are mixed views about contempt notice served upon him by Apex Court. Some are of the view that Imran Khan was continuously criticizing judiciary and was leveling charges of rigging against him. Others say that Khan is right in his concerns over massive rigging in elections. It is expected that common sense will prevail and Imran Khan will adopt a decent behavior when appearing before judges and will not try to level charges of partiality and bias. It is further expected that he will not raise any objection of composition of the bench as well. However, question still remains the same. What will happen if PTI Chairman Imran Khan is convicted in contempt of court case? Legal experts say he may face five years disqualification from parliament membership and party’s chairmanship. Although unlikely, but such a decision will serve a fatal blow to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf which has rose to prominence after seventeen years of struggle and became the second largest party of the country based on number of votes obtained during general elections. PTI has 36 members in National Assembly with representation in three provincial assemblies as well. However, despite the presence of seasoned politicians like Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Javed Hashmi, and Jahangir Tarin no leader is poised enough to take responsibilities of Imran Khan. Disqualification of Imran Khan will mean that PTI will find itself difficult to stay united as most of his lawmakers are very new in power corridors. They may have tendency to leave apart ideological politics and join traditional politics. If Imran Khan is disqualified, PTI will find itself in same position as it was in 1996. - See more at: http://pakistantribune.com.pk/3567/if-imran-khan-is-disqualified.html#sthash.jhYK3C8v.dpuf
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