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OPINION FEBRUARY 23, 2024 | The Indian Eye 12
Military courts, under which many
of Khan’s supporters tried vandalis-
ing Army installations and attacking
the Corp Commander’s house, were
strengthened by Shehbaz Sharif’s
government.
The return of Nawaz Sharif to
Pakistan and his acquittal from sev-
eral cases in which he was accused
gave rise to the assumption that he
was the favoured candidate of the
establishment. However, Nawaz has
withdrawn from the prime ministe-
rial race and has blessed his young-
er brother, Shehbaz, to become the
premier for the second time. Inter-
estingly, the PML-N has marginally
improved its number of seats—it had
won 64 seats in the National Assem-
bly in 2018 despite Sharif’s adverse
relations with Army, and has won 75
seats this time, when he is touted as a
favourite of the Army.
While the PTI campaigned
against the Army’s interfer-
ence in politics and the im- The PTI, which formed a coalition government stitched by the military with the support of other parties,
prisonment of their leader in could not last the five-year term (File photo)
corruption cases, the most In fact, many of the demonstrations unity. close relations with the Army, which
frivolous case against him was organised by the PTI at that time A fractured mandate has al- is perhaps the best bet for the coa-
revolved around this issue, which ways given the Army the space to lition’s longevity. During his tenure
he being sentenced to seven led to the setting up of the Judicial call the shots. After the 2008 transi- as the Prime Minister, he sufficient-
years in prison on the ground Commission, whose findings reject- tion to democracy, the PPP and the ly empowered the military. For the
Army, the choice was clear: Anyone
PML-N as political parties retained
ed Khan’s claims. They are trying to
of iddat. This also demonstrat- bring back the same narrative now power in the Centre even though but Imran Khan. Khan has been able
ed that the poster boy of the to argue that it is the Army that has their prime ministers were removed to mobilise youth, and for the first
manipulated the election to deny the through judicial verdicts. The PTI, time, the Army has faced severe do-
Army was turned into a villain PTI majority in the Parliament by which formed a coalition govern- mestic opposition to its role. During
as serious differences cropped stealing votes. There is no denying ment stitched by the military with Khan’s rule, the Army was divided
the fact that despite all odds, Khan
over their approach to Imran Khan.
the support of other parties, could
up between him and the estab- still retains popularity compared to not last the five-year term as the Ju- As of now, seven independents have
lishment over the Army chief’s the PML-N and PPP. diciary opened in the middle of the already joined the PML-N. Some
night to ensure that Khan stands for
may join in the future—a possibility
The party that almost lost pop-
appointment. ularity in 2021-22 in the face of a a floor test to prove his majority in that cannot be ruled out. With the
rising economic crisis has persisted, the house which he failed. election for 60 reserved seats for
as Imran remained adamant on his The Army’s ability to play one women and 10 for minorities, the
After the conclusion of this elec-
tion, where the PTI could not fight stance not to approach the IMF. He party against another is well known. coalition will have a comfortable
It empowered the PTI as both the
turned the table on his detractors
majority to sail through the next five
on its election symbol of Bat, his sup- when he attributed his loss of ma- PPP and the PML-N were critical years if they decide to stick together.
porters continued to harp on rigging. jority in Parliament to Western con- of the Army and its interference. Political instability will only add
They happily accepted the blatant spiracy. He criticised his benefactors Nawaz Sharif filed a treason case to Pakistan’s economic predicaments
electoral support that the Army ex- for interfering in politics and being against General Musharraf, which as the country faces severe economic
tended to them earlier, which result- above the law. He also accused the he later admitted as one of the caus- challenges with rising inflation and
ed in the Party increasing its seats Army of being petrified of his pop- es for his conviction in the Panama nearly $30 billion in debt servicing.
from 27 in 2013 to 115 in 2018. In ularity and, therefore, arresting him. Paper corruption case and subse-
April 2018, Sharif was disqualified quent disqualification. In most of
from contesting the election as per ADVANTAGE ARMY? these cases, the Supreme Court of Smruti S Pattanaik is a research fellow
the provision of 62(1)(f) to facilitate Social media is rife with the as- Pakistan did not hesitate to do the at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for
Khan’s victory. This ban for life was sumption that the Army could not bidding on behalf of the Army. Part Defence Studies and Analyses, New
lifted by the Supreme Court prior to manage the election as the PTI- of its judgement stemmed from the Delhi, India.
the 2024 election as the court said backed independents, popularly judicial activism under former Chief
that the ban cannot be more than known as Azad, won many seats. Justice Iftekhar Chowdhury, and This article first appeared
five years and is against fundamental However, several reports in the print partly, it was dictated by the expedi- in the Comments section of the website
rights to contest election. media allege irregularity in the elec- ency of the situation. (www.idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar
The PTI’s narrative since 2013 tion even as the establishment calls Institute for Defence Studies and Anal-
has been that their votes were stolen. for politicians to show maturity and Shehbaz Sharif is known to have yses, New Delhi
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