For now, we may only spectate as institutions bend to the will of those who think that no elected leader deserves a free pass.
Editorial
February 1, 2024
TWO verdicts in two days. A
14-year sentence for ‘corruption’ to accompany a
10-year sentence for ‘divulging state secrets’. First, his top lieutenant, and now his spouse also convicted and jailed.
And still, former prime minister Imran Khan’s troubles are far from over. What new depths will the state plumb as it makes clear its antipathy towards him?
The days leading up to the Feb 8 elections may hold more ‘surprises’. For now, we may only sit and spectate as facts, procedures, laws and institutions bend to the will of those who think that no elected leader deserves a
free pass — until they decide they do.
Mr Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been convicted for
under-declaring the value of a jewellery set they received as a gift while the former was still in office. The verdict has been delivered via an accountability court judge who, just days before the last general election, had also
convicted this year’s front-runners in the Avenfield reference.
That judgement was
overturned in November last year. Most commentators believe this one will not last too long, either. Incidentally — or perhaps by design — the same judge is also supposed to hear a
similar case involving items retained from the state’s gift repository. The matter involves several cars allegedly retained by Messrs Nawaz Sharif, Yousuf Raza Gilani and Asif Ali Zardari in violation of Toshakhana rules.
Pakistan Affairs
