Way out for Imran Khan

Back to parliamentary politics?

It has taken Imran Khan nearly three months to learn that an elected Prime Minister could not be forced to resign on the whims of an opposition party. He has now agreed to allow Nawaz Sharif to remain in power with a number of conditions. First, the PM must set up a commission to investigate alleged poll rigging. Second, he must do it before 30^th November. Third, the commission should comprise of SC judges and representatives of ISI and MI. Fourth, the commission must finish its work within six weeks. In case found to be involved in rigging, Sharif must go.

The federal government called on the Supreme Court to form a judicial commission to probe into the allegations in August. Being the highest court in the country, the government is not in a position to dictate it a particular time schedule, much less ask it to include the ISI and MI or for that matter any other agency in the commission. It is for the SC to decide how much time it will take to complete the job and which agency or government department is best suited to extend help to it in the probe. The constitution binds all government departments, including military, to help the court in the execution of its duties.

It is time Khan gets off his high horse, stops issuing directives and faces the reality. His million march turned out to be a figment of imagination, his hope of the ‘umpire’ raising his finger was wishful thinking, PAT which was his only supporter has abandoned him, and at least three of his MNAs have deserted. The opposition is however still keen to welcome him back in the NA. Khan would do well to reach an understanding with other parties on the selection of the new CEC — selecting which in itself has become quite an issue as former Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani has also refused to accept the honours — withdraw resignations and jointly work out the needed electoral reforms in the parliamentary committee meanwhile waiting for the results of the SC’s probe into the rigging allegations.