The twist is that Imran Khan can still contest the next elections.

And when you ask journalist Hamid Mir about it, the former prime minister’s disqualification under the country’s top electoral authority decision in the Toshakhan case is minor.

“Whenever these elections are held whether in March 2023 or September, October 2023… whenever it will be Imran Khan can contest elections,” he says on Shaukat Paracha’s show Rubaroo on Aaj News Friday night. “He has already resigned from the National Assembly, so he is not going to the assembly. So he can contest elections whenever it will be held.”

The Election Commission of Pakistan barred PTI chief Imran from holding public office on Friday under Article 63(1)(p) for making “false statements and incorrect declaration” pertaining to the gifts he received as the prime minister.

Article 63 (1) (p) of the Constitution states that an individual is, for the time being, disqualified from being elected or chosen as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament) or of a provincial assembly under any law for the time being in force.

He describes the ECP’s decision as a “minor jolt” as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government is working on some other cases, including foreign funding. The government has got copies of some cheques, copies of which have been seen by the journalist.

“If that case is made against Imran, it will be severe,” he said, adding that many legal experts have raised questions to the ECP’s decision. Secondly, he reiterated that the disqualification was minor—limited to single term, which means the PTI chief can fight election from the same constituency.

Mir claims that the PTI had prepared its petition, challenging the ECP decision, in advance as they were aware of the ruling. The ECP has so far not issued the detailed judgment in the case and reports say that a Babar Barwana, one of the members from the five-member ECP bench, has so far not signed the decision.

It raises a question that what caused the commission to issue the decision in haste. It could have waited for one or two days till the signing of the signature. “I think the ECP has shown irresponsibility and you can call it incompetence, which will benefit Imran,” Mir said, as it would support the claims of biased election commission.

The PTI will move the Islamabad High Court against the decision and if the ECP decision is upheld then they will approach the Supreme Court where another PTI leader Faisal Vawda case pertaining to the disqualification is already pending. “Ultimately, I think Imran and Vawda cases can be clubbed.”

Imran and cabinet members

Continuing with his political insights, he claimed that army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had taken General Faiz Hameed to the-then prime minister Imran in February 2021. “And he said, Mr PM this is not our work to keep your party intact. Your members are going here and there so keep your party intact.”

But, the PTI chief did not pay much heed to the advice. Then, the PTI ministers used to meet the army chief in groups. To a query, Mir says the group of five and seven ministers had separately met Gen Bajwa.

“Those seven ministers had gone to meet the army chief together and they said ‘you explain to our prime minister he does not listen to us and there are issues’. To this, the army chief said does he not listens to you? The ministers replied in affirmative.” Gen Bajwa had several times advised Imran to listen to the ministers.

Last year, Gen Bajwa informed that he wants to post out Gen Faiz as if the latter wants to become the army chief then he should command a corps. Imran asked to delay it several times.

“They [PTI and government] have made unofficial contacts. We cannot call it talks. So far there is no breakthrough, I asked this from the leaderships of PTI and PML-N and from their top leaders. You cannot call it negotiations. Only contacts are established. But, the ECP decision came and the talks ended.”

The show ended with Mir’s warning: “Don’t think that martial law cannot be declared in the country. Today, still if it is declared here the Western powers will have the golden opportunity and they will get their job done as civilian governments cannot do many works the army can do. And if it is declared Imran Khan will be responsible for it.”