Pakistan SC spoils Imran’s game

Imran Khan, Pakistan's embattled prime minister, knew he would lose the no-confidence vote in parliament, and so he decided to avoid it and go for fresh polls instead. But now the verdict by the Supreme Court of Pakistan—that his move to block the no-confidence vote on April 3 and then to advise the president to dissolve parliament was unconstitutional—unravels his game plan and puts his future and that of his party into serious jeopardy.

His sudden "discovery" of a plot by the US to uproot him and finding the opposition to be an integral part of it have puzzled the observers of Pakistan's politics. It appears that he wanted to exploit the anti-Western sentiment, which is widely prevalent in Pakistan, to his advantage. But he could not deceive the courts that saw the ploy for what it really was: an attempt to avoid the legal and democratic process laid down in Pakistan's constitution. The Supreme Court's verdict is crucial, as it sends out the message that politicians, regardless of their ranks, cannot just run the country based on personal whims and political opportunism.

Khan rose to power nearly four years ago amid great expectations from all. He was young, fresh, charismatic and represented a shift from the rotten politics of power oscillating between the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Muslim League, whose leaders had long lost public trust for their corruption and cronyism. But very soon he lost his shine and became highly autocratic in his dealings with the opposition and his own party leaders. In policy formulations, he often would not consult his cabinet, close aides and political allies. He must now, in all likelihood—and due to his own Machiavellian manoeuvres—join the long line of Pakistani prime ministers before him who could not complete their respective terms in office. 

It is not clear what is likely to follow. Opposition will most probably win the no-confidence vote and form a government till the next election, which is due next year. Imran Khan will, of course, not allow them rule peacefully and raise hell in the streets of Pakistan, for which he still has enough support base. Let no one underestimate his capacity to turn things in his favour through an upset election. Whatever happens, the coming days and months are not likely to be tranquil in Pakistan, and that's when the country is facing its most serious economic crisis in decades.