Imran Khan’s arrest to help PML-N and Pak military establishment to get ‘desired results’ in upcoming polls: experts

Imran Khan's conviction in corruption case clears major hurdle for Pakistan elections; PML-N and military establishment to get desired results. Analysts and politicians believe Imran Khan's arrest paves way for polls. Imran Khan's conviction ends his status as PTI chairman and his struggle for free and fair elections.

Imran Khan's conviction and his three-year jail term in a corruption case have cleared a "major hurdle" in holding general elections in Pakistan and will help the ruling PML-N and the powerful military establishment to get the "desired results" in the polls, some analysts and political leaders believe.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, 70, was arrested from his home on August 5 shortly after an Islamabad trial court found him guilty of “corrupt practices” in the Toshakhana corruption case and sentenced him to three years in jail, which automatically disqualified him for five years from holding any public office.

The case alleges that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief “deliberately concealed” details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana, a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept, during his time as the Prime Minister and proceeds from their reported sales.

From political analysts to politicians of the mainstream parties, there has been a discussion in Pakistan in recent weeks that the general elections which are due in October/November will only be held once Mr. Khan is sent to jail, making it easier for the military establishment to get the "desired results" (in the polls) and install a set up of its choice in Islamabad.

Political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi told PTI that after the arrest of Khan, there seems to be no reason left to delay the polls.

"Both the ruling PML-N and the military establishment appear to be on the same page," he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week told leaders of the allied parties that he would send advice to the president for the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9.