Pakistan’s main opposition party hit by twin legal setbacks in single day

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the country’s major opposition party led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, suffered two major blows on Tuesday -- one in the courtroom and the other at the election commission -- further compounding its ongoing legal and political challenges.

In Rawalpindi, an anti-terrorism court cancelled the pre-arrest bail of Omar Ayub, the Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan’s National Assembly and a senior PTI figure, in 14 separate cases linked to the party’s protest demonstrations held on Nov 26, 2023, in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The decision was announced by Judge Amjad Ali Shah, who noted that neither Ayub nor his legal counsel appeared before the court to pursue the bail applications. The court subsequently dismissed the requests for non-prosecution.

The charges originate from a series of First Information Reports (FIRs) filed during the protests, which saw confrontations between police and demonstrators. Ayub had previously been granted interim bail in these cases, but Tuesday’s ruling has now left him vulnerable to arrest.

ECP disqualifies PTI MNA Jamshed Dasti over fake degree

In a parallel development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Jamshed Dasti, a Member of the National Assembly affiliated with PTI, after ruling that his academic credentials were fake.

The verdict came in response to a reference submitted by the speaker of the National Assembly and upheld by the ECP, which declared Dasti ineligible to hold public office. Two separate petitions had earlier challenged the authenticity of his degrees. The decision marks a blow to PTI, which is already navigating electoral and legal uncertainty.

This isn’t the first time Dasti has faced scrutiny over his academic credentials. He had previously resigned from the National Assembly amid a similar fake degree controversy in 2010 and was even briefly convicted in 2013 before the verdict was overturned on appeal.

Both Ayub and Dasti are key figures within PTI, which has remained under intense pressure from both state institutions and political rivals following Khan’s ouster in 2023.

Jail authorities reject ‘misleading’ claims about Khan’s detention

Amidst growing scrutiny of conditions surrounding Khan’s imprisonment, the administration of Central Jail Rawalpindi issued a formal rebuttal to media reports alleging preferential treatment for the PTI founder.

In a statement, jail authorities confirmed that Khan is being held in a separate VVIP barrack, but clarified that all amenities provided -- such as a bed, fan, air cooler, and a separate bathroom -- are in accordance with the jail manual and court-approved privileges.

The statement also highlighted that more than 66 individuals, including legal advisors and political colleagues, have met Khan during his detention. Furthermore, international media outlets have conducted interviews with Khan with official authorization, countering claims of restricted access or impropriety.

Jail officials described the circulating media narratives as “misleading” and emphasized that all procedures were being followed under established rules and legal frameworks.

PTI rejects talk of divisions, defends protest plans

Outside Adiala Jail, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan addressed reporters and reaffirmed that the party’s nationwide protest campaign, launched at the direction of Khan, is already underway and will culminate on August 5 next month.

Commenting on remarks made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who had floated a 90-day deadline for Khan’s release, Barrister Gohar played down the statement, calling it a “routine political comment” -- adding that “something or the other will happen in 90 days.”

He also dismissed speculation of internal fractures within PTI, saying that differences of opinion are natural in any large political party. “There is no external dictation,” Gohar said, underlining that PTI’s leadership remains firmly under Imran Khan’s control.

He also clarified that Senate election nominations have already been finalized by Khan himself.

A purported list circulating on social media was deemed fake by the PTI leader, who reiterated that no official names have been leaked.