Reset or no Reset?

Is Imran Khan getting back in the game?

Reset or no reset? Now that is the question

By Murtaza Solangi

Rumour mills are working overtime. It is not just babbling babblers aka V-loggers but even serious analysts and anchors who deal with Pak politics and politicos, have joined the chorus turning into a crescendo. The Buzz is: April showers will bring May flowers of reconciliation. Engagement has begun. Relief to May 9 marauders is on the anvil.

The only answer I can find is a big NO.

If the answer to all this hullabaloo is a big NO, then why are these noises popping up? How to make sense of the recent events seemingly suggesting that PTI head-honcho in Adiala and his party workers are getting some relief from the courts and alluding as if they have a wink and a nod from Rawalpindi?

So, what has really happened in last few days that is prodding the talking heads, speaking through the thumbnails?

Consider:

Imran Khan was given a bail in the Cipher case three weeks back and recently his Toshakhana graft case conviction has been suspended. After a controversial agreement with the jail authorities on the directions of the Islamabad High Court, the sacked former prime minister has been afforded the luxury of a weekly calendar of leisurely meetings with his legal counsels, political leaders and family members, besides a luxurious accommodation and special food facilities. A couple of dozen people arrested related to May 9 are being released one by one and last but not the least, the newly installed KP government had a meeting with the provincial military command in Peshawar and it has been endorsed by Imran Khan (as a fait accompli) in his recent most interaction with the media. Peshawar High Court has been doling out wholesale bails to PTI leaders. All these developments are being interpreted as the April thaw between the establishment and the PTI leadership.

Really?

Let us take it one by one.

The seemingly positive actions by Islamabad High Court, at best are routine proceedings. Imran Khan remains incarcerated and the interim relief provided to him is not tantamount to his acquittal in the foreseeable future. He remains locked to his anti-army leadership narrative and the vibes of reconciliation sans his apology to his toxic words and deeds, since his ouster won’t fly as they run against the institutional consensus of the establishment. His support of overseas bloggers and the protests against Pakistan military leadership is not something that will be taken lightly and will amuse none.

The wholesale relief provided to PTI leaders, specially Hammad Azhar, who got 51 bails in the matter of minutes, only proves how broken our judicial system. It doesn’t support the notion of nod from the brass. Only fools will believe that in the divided polity and fractured state system, the establishment has absolute control over the system. The power in Pakistan has checks and balances. Even the judiciary is divided which can clearly be discerned from the events of the six judges writing to the Supreme Court and the fracas within the legal community.

Now let us talk about the visit of the KP cabinet and the Gandapur Gup Shup at the 11 corps headquarters. The provincial government led by Gandapur is taking the power issues as any normal power group deals in the parliamentary power politics. The very fact that Gandapur had a congenial meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif despite blowing hot air on and off, the new wielders of power are approaching issues in a normal manner. This scribe is eyewitness to the last SIFC meeting where CM KP was not only present but did not raise any controversial issue in the presence of the brass.

The fact is that with the passage of time, Imran Khan and his ambitious and incarcerated third wife, are increasingly feeling isolated and irrelevant. Those who wanted to enjoy the perks and privileges of power courtesy his vote bank, have achieved their goal, both within KP, Punjab and the federal power structure. After the Senate elections, and after the declaration of important committees and leaders of the opposition at all those forums, the interest of all those new players rest in the continuity of the system for five years. That is something that doesn’t suit the man in Adiala and his overseas backers. His feeling of isolation and irrelevance is pushing them to new theatrics including the recent Harpic drops and arsenic theory propelled by Mr. Khan and his wife. With the passage of time the differences between Mr Khan, his foreign backers and PTI in power will increase.

One thing is clear. No party and no leader have hurt the unity and the strength of the Pakistan’s armed forces and their leadership than Mr. Khan in the recent history. Without a clear and unequivocal apology and a clear commitment by Mr. Khan and his cohorts, one can imagine any softening for them from Pindi. Period.