Panel to head party in my absence

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has formed a committee to lead his party in case he gets arrested, he told Reuters in an interview. This move came hours before he appeared before a court that had issued arrest warrants for him. Khan has been leading nationwide protests since his ouster from power last year, and a spate of cases have been registered against him. The police had unsuccessfully tried to arrest him on Tuesday, leading to intense clashes with his party workers.

In the interview, the former Prime Minister stated that he has made a committee that will take decisions if he gets arrested and that there are 94 cases against him. He claimed without providing evidence that his political opponents and the military want to block him from standing in the upcoming elections later this year.

The military and government have not commented on these allegations so far. The Prime Minister’s government has denied any involvement in these cases. The military, which has played an outsized role in Pakistan’s political history, has stated that it remains neutral towards politics.

Khan believes that the establishment feels threatened by him and has a role in pushing him out of power. He stated that the previous army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, retired in November and had sour relations with him, which led to him losing power. Khan also claimed that the new chief, General Asim Munir, was following the same policy. The military has previously denied his claims.

Khan stated that his life is even more at threat than before and expressed worry about the reaction to his arrest or any attempt to assassinate him. Thousands of his supporters have rallied behind him every time he has called for demonstrations, making him a prominent figure in Pakistan’s politics.

This move of forming a committee to take decisions if he gets arrested shows that there is significant uncertainty and instability in Pakistan’s political environment. With 94 cases against him and his call for nationwide protests, it is clear that Khan is a significant force in Pakistani politics, and he is not going down without a fight.

The situation in Pakistan is precarious, with decades-high inflation and a crippling economic slowdown as the country implements painful fiscal reforms to avert default. Against this backdrop, Khan and his party have generated enormous popular support.

In conclusion, the formation of a committee by Imran Khan to lead his party in case of his arrest highlights the tense political situation in Pakistan. With 94 cases against him and his call for nationwide protests, Khan and his party are significant players in Pakistani politics. The military’s alleged involvement in his ouster and the threat to his life shows that the situation in Pakistan is far from stable.#committee #lead #party #arrested #Reuters