ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said that he will support the release of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, if granted bail by the courts.
Responding to a journalist’s question regarding the possibility of Imran Khan’s release, Bilawal said that he believes in respecting the legal process. “If the courts in Pakistan decide that the founder of PTI should be released on bail, then I will support it,” he said. He added, “I didn’t know about this development; I’m hearing it for the first time. But if it’s true, it is part of the legal process and should be respected.”
Bilawal’s statement is being seen as a rare gesture of political maturity in Pakistan’s highly polarized environment. By supporting the judiciary’s independence even in cases involving a political rival, he is emphasizing the need for all political matters to be resolved through legal and democratic means.
Imran Khan, a former cricketer who led Pakistan to its only Cricket World Cup victory in 1992, entered politics in the mid-1990s and founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Initially seen as a political outsider, he gradually built PTI into a major political force, advocating for anti-corruption, governance reform, and social justice.
In 2018, Imran Khan became the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan after PTI won a majority in the general elections. His tenure was marked by efforts to combat corruption, stabilize the economy, and redefine Pakistan’s foreign policy, especially with a focus on self-reliance and regional diplomacy. However, his government also faced criticism for economic mismanagement, inflation, and restrictions on media and dissent.
In April 2022, Imran Khan was removed from office through a no-confidence vote in parliament, becoming the first Pakistani prime minister to be ousted this way. Following his removal, he launched an aggressive campaign against what he called a “foreign-backed regime change,” blaming both domestic political opponents and international forces for his ousting.
Since then, Imran Khan has faced a series of legal challenges and has been arrested multiple times in connection with corruption, contempt of court, and other charges. His political future has been uncertain amid a wide-ranging crackdown on PTI leaders and supporters, particularly after violent protests erupted across the country following his initial arrest in May 2023.
Despite his legal troubles, Imran Khan continues to maintain significant public support and remains a central figure in Pakistani politics. His release—if granted—could potentially reenergize his political base and reshape the political landscape ahead of the next general elections.
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