By Neelam Rahim

Pakistan’s top court has ruled to hand control of the country’s most popular province Punjab to a candidate backed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, triggering political uncertainty in the South Asian nation amid a deepening economic crisis.

The move ramps up pressure on the federal government made up of a coalition of parties that removed Khan from his Premiership in April as it attempts to implement strict and unpopular economic reforms to stave off a financial crisis.

In short, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled that a khan-backed candidate for Punjab’s chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had been wrongfully denied victory in a vote last week and ordered to be installed as the premier of the province before midnight on Tuesday. President Arif Alvi administered the oath to Elahi at the presidential house in Islamabad.

Khalid Rahman, the Director General of the Institute of policy studies in Pakistan, joins the discussion with Radio Islam International.

According to Khalid, this has undoubtedly strengthened the uncertainty that was prevailing. There are so many issues among the tension which is creating a crisis. 

He says the overall environment seems to be greater in favour of Imran khan because he got fifteen seats out of twenty in the bi-elections in Punjab. In his loss of premiership, the way he has organised and mobilised his supporters, including the many difficult decisions the government has taken, the overall support for Imran Khan is charged and mobilised.

“The overall environment is much in favour of Imran Khan at this moment, but the happening of the coming days is very uncertain,” he added.

Khalid tells Radio Islam that Imran Khan is asking for an early election, and many people think it’s time to have a fresh mandate for any party with real support. But at the same time, there are questions of how much interest Imran Khan has in that as he can go for a resignation resolving the two provincial assemblies he now supports. 

He added that if he dissolved the two assemblies, there would be a situation in which a new election would automatically be due. 

For the full interview, listen to Radio Islam’s podcast below.