Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s fight for innocence could keep him off campaign trail
Imran Khan was “hooded and dragged” out of his home – his lawyers say he was “treated badly” by authorities who arrested and took him to one of Pakistan’s high-security prisons dedicated to holding militants and terrorists.
Attock prison is notorious too, for being the jail where other previous prime ministers have been imprisoned.
There the former prime minister awaits an appeal – to be moved to another prison, Adiala jail in nearby Rawalpindi, and an appeal against his conviction.
He’s been sentenced to three years in jail for failing to declare the sale of state assets.
As the then prime minister he was allowed to buy and then sell state gifts but is accused of not declaring these assets or funds. This omission has now cost him his freedom.
His lawyers are being kept busy running between Attock jail and the courts – at least a four or five-hour round trip.
But when arriving at the prison access to Mr Khan is touch and go.
On Sunday they say they were denied the right to see their client. They returned on Monday – they need his signature to file his appeal.
They will then ask the High Court to review the lower trial court’s decision to sentence him. A High Court ruling earlier had ordered a retrial in this state gifts case.
I know this detail seems complex – but the devil is in the detail – bear with me.
It’s hardly a surprise he has been arrested once again, but the sudden sentencing and quick transfer to Pakistan’s most hostile environment prison has been decried by his party and supporters.
The last time he was arrested the country erupted in protests that turned into riots, seeing Pakistani citizens targeting previously untouchable military installations.
Many believe the military’s hidden hand is behind all this.
This time though, there is a stark difference. Despite Mr Khan’s calls for peaceful protests – to fight not for him but for the country he says – we have seen little in the way of demonstrations.
His party officials, asking not to be named, tell me they will not come out en masse or announce protests, preferring to rely rather, on flash mobs.
Mr Khan faces at least 150 cases against him. Any one of them could be invoked at any time.
He says they are all politically motivated.
The government says they have nothing to do with it and this is simply Pakistan’s justice system in action.
Government ministers are notably staying quieter than usual on the matter and keeping their distance.
Whatever the reasons behind these charges he is most certainly going to be tied up in red tape for weeks or months to come. The devil you see, is in the detail. If one case goes away, another one of the 150 will most certainly come up.
Unlike in the US – any person convicted of a crime in Pakistan cannot run for office.
So, this conviction must be overturned if Mr Khan is to run in the upcoming election – expected, but not yet tabled, for later this year.
It’s this very cat-and-mouse game and his battle to fight for his innocence that will – by design some say – keep him off the campaign trail and out of circulation.
For now, he is in a battle not for parliament, but for his very freedom.