Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that in the current situation, it seems that Imran Khan is not facing the army but the state.

In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Kakar discussed political issues in Pakistan regarding PMLN leader Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan and the legal difficulties faced by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan.

After his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, before returning to Pakistan, he gave a special interview to the BBC during his stay in London where he said he wanted the law to take its course on the return of Nawaz Sharif and has sought the opinion of the Ministry of Law on the issue of possible arrest or jailing on his return.

In response to a question, the caretaker prime minister said, ‘The purpose of what I said about Imran Khan’s punishment was that after using all the opportunities in the judicial system, even after using them, Imran Khan should be punished under the laws. Barring an election, it would be beyond our mandate to provide any relief. The law will take its own course.

Asked about seeing the country’s environment as a contest between Imran Khan and the army in the current context, PM had to say, ‘No, I am seeing Imran Khan versus the state’. He said that if relief is not given by the courts then unfortunately Imran Khan will have to face these consequences.

On the question regarding Nawaz Sharif’s return, the caretaker prime minister said, “In his case too, we would like the law to take its own course. You will remember that he went out of the country with a court order.”

He said, “There are two sides to Nawaz Sharif’s case, one is political, but without going into this debate, if it is seen under the prevailing laws, the decision has to be taken by the courts.” A convicted person was allowed by the courts, not by the executive.

The caretaker prime minister further said that the decision against Nawaz Sharif was a decision against an individual. Instead of marrying someone, the same political person’s party also won about 90 seats in the next elections.

Asked about ensuring neutrality in the elections, Kakar said, “There will be absolutely no harshness with PTI.” Yes, those people who are found to be involved in negative activities will be dealt with according to the law and they are specific people who would be 1500 and 2000 out of a population of 25 crores, linking them with PTI will not be a fair analysis.“

He also said that comparing the action against PTI with the action against the People’s Party during the time of General Zia or the action against the PMLN during the time of General Musharraf would be a ‘nonsensical analysis and wrong thing’.

The caretaker prime minister also made it clear that if a political leader is unable to participate in the elections, whether it creates a crisis or not, this is not the problem of the Caretaker Government because our aim is not to prevent or create a crisis, our role under the law is to conduct elections. The emergence of crisis as a result of the election is a matter of the entire society and the state, not of the caretaker government.

Regarding the constitutional period of 90 days for general elections, he said that this matter is primarily the responsibility of the Election Commission. It does not become unconstitutional and illegal by mere delay.