Imran Khan: Still Influential in Pakistan After a Year in Jail

It’s now a year since former Pakistani Prime Minister and cricket star Imran Khan has been behind bars, but he seems to be very much at the center of Pakistani politics. He crops up daily in newspapers and court cases; his social media supporters are pretty active.

Khan communicates through his lawyers and family members who visit him. His sister, Aleema Khanum, said he retains his confidence and spends his time exercising, reading, and reflecting.

Why is Khan in Jail?

Once supportive, his relationship with the powerful military of Pakistan deteriorated over time. His arrest in May 2023 provoked violent protests targeting buildings used by the military. Months later he was jailed for improperly declaring state gifts, and he was subsequently hit with more charges.

The media companies were reportedly told to limit their coverage before the election in February 2024. His party, the PTI, faced a raft of challenges.

– Many candidates were in prison or hiding.

– Its recognizable cricket bat symbol was lost by the party

– Campaigning was strictly limited

The Recent Election and Its Aftermath

Despite these barriers, Khan-backed candidates won more seats than expected. Rival parties had to form an alliance to keep them out of power. The PTI claims some results were rigged and is contesting them in court.

For some, like his supporters, the election will be a milestone because it helps cement Khan’s status as a force to be reckoned with. “There is change in the air,” Khan’s sister said. However, according to some other analysts, including Michael Kugelman from the Wilson Center, nothing has changed. Khan sits in jail, and a military-backed coalition sits in power.

What’s Next for Khan and Pakistan?

The imprint that Khan has left on Pakistani politics lingers. The recent election proved that he retains his populist touch, even from prison. And his party, though now more beleaguered than ever before, retains enough strength to be an undeniable opposition force.

The coming months will be crucial. Can Khan supporters sustain their momentum? How much work can the PTI do without its leader, now that he is incarcerated? How is the new government going to soothe and defuse existing political tensions?

As these questions duke out in Pakistan, there is one thing abundantly clear: a year in prison has done very little to mute Imran Khan’s outsized influence on the country’s political scene. His story became one of personality against power, of institutions playing out against each other in Pakistani politics.