Daily Times

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has reiterated the government’s stance on ensuring an inclusive political process, emphasising that it is not the government’s policy to expel anyone from the political arena and pledged to investigate if any individual is prevented from participating in the election process.

Speaking during an interview with a private TV channel on Saturday, Kakar reflected on the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, characterising it as not an unusual event. He expressed bewilderment at the widespread chaos that ensued across the country on May 9, referring to the events surrounding Khan’s arrest. Kakar remarked, “I think the people involved in May 9 should not be public representatives,” but he clarified that he does not believe the entire PTI should be linked to the events of that day.

Addressing concerns related to a lack of a level-playing field for any political party, Kakar assured that he would investigate such complaints. “If anyone is prevented from the election process, we will investigate it and talk to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in this regard,” he affirmed.

“I voted for PTI as a party in 2013 and 2018 elections and I am not ashamed of it… I once defended PTI. The PTI government was expected to improve governance and the economy,” he remarked. The statement was made the same day the PTI founder moved the Supreme Court seeking the suspension of his conviction in the Toshakhana case until the final judgment on his appeal, pending in the federal capital’s high court, is announced. Represented by Advocate Latif Khosa, Khan argued that being declared ineligible before the elections infringes upon his fundamental rights and raised concerns about the election commission’s swift decision, alleging bias.

Khan urged the apex court to nullify the Islamabad High Court’s decision and suspend the sentencing in the Toshakhana case. He stressed the urgency of the matter, emphasising the upcoming general elections and asserting that the leader of the country’s “largest political party” should not be excluded from the electoral process. The capital’s high court on Tuesday had dismissed Khan’s application seeking suspension of his conviction in the gift repository case.

The decision effectively eliminates the possibility of the PTI founder contesting the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024. The Election Commission of Pakistan had disqualified Khan as a lawmaker on August 8, following his conviction in the Toshakhana case by a trial court on August 5.