ISLAMABAD: A day before Prime Minister Imran Khan faces his toughest challenge yet - a vote tomorrow, Saturday, on a no-confidence motion filed by a joint opposition - political analysts and experts advised the premier to engage in “soul searching” and stay within “democratic and constitutional limits” while planning his next steps.
Faced with what seemed like imminent defeat, Khan dodged voting on a no-confidence motion last week after the National Assembly’s deputy speaker dismissed it on the grounds that it was part of a “foreign conspiracy.”
Khan subsequently advised the president to dissolve the National Assembly and issued a call for fresh elections. The moves were widely called “unconstitutional” by critics of Khan and on Thursday the Supreme Court also declared them illegal, restoring parliament.
Khan allies have denounced the Supreme Court's verdict and said it was akin to a "judicial coup."
But political analysts are widely agreed that the court’s ruling was “historic” and Khan should accept it rather than once again try to dodge the vote.
“The decision will have a long lasting impact, it is more than powerful because it was unanimous, and it will be quoted for the rest of Pakistan’s history,” Ajmal Jami, a special correspondent and talk show host at Dunya News, told Arab News.
“This is a victory for the constitution, for democracy, and I hope and believe this will pave the way to strengthen democracy in Pakistan. Khan must accept this gracefully and prepare for the next elections.”
News talk show host Zarrar Khuhro said Khan should engage in “soul searching” after recent political developments, including defections from his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and abandonment by coalition partners. He also said Khan’s accusations of a “foreign conspiracy” to oust him would not help come election season.
“In the short term, the PTI may try to sell this American controversy to the public, but the party may not be able to mobilize a broader public support base through this,” he told Arab News, saying Khan should use his personal charisma to keep the party intact and reach out to the public before the next general elections with a “more formidable campaign rather than relying on unproven controversies.”
Khan should “do some introspection and mobilize the public on genuine issues while staying within the democratic and constitutional limits,” Khuhro added.
Zebunnisa Burki, an editor at The News, said the prime minister and his party should follow a “democratic path” and allow the person with a majority be elected as the new leader of the house.
“Khan and his party should play their active role inside the parliament to contribute to policies and legislation to ease public life,” she added.
Professor Dr. Rasul Bukhsh Rais said the recent Supreme Court ruling was a clear setback for the prime minister and his party, but all was not lost as Khan could still bounce back by mobilizing the public.
“Imran Khan should accept it [the court ruling] gracefully and start his politics as a leader of the opposition in the National Assembly,” he told Arab News.
It would be dangerous for the country and for the PTI, Dr Rais said, “if they tender en masse resignations in the assembly and start [politics of] street agitation.”
Experts hope for 'soul searching, graceful exit' for PM Khan after top court verdict
https://arab.news/mmx9a
Experts hope for 'soul searching, graceful exit' for PM Khan after top court verdict
- PM Khan meets cabinet today, to address nation tonight ahead of no-trust vote on Saturday
- Analysts urge Khan to “follow democratic path,” mobilize public and prepare for elections
Pakistan among Arab, Muslim nations slamming US envoy’s remarks on Israel’s right to Mideast land
- Huckabee suggested Israel could claim land stretching across parts of the Middle East
- Pakistan and Arab states say comments violate international law, threaten Gaza de-escalation
JERUSALEM: Arab and Islamic countries issued a joint condemnation on Sunday of remarks by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who suggested Israel had a biblical right to a vast swath of the Middle East.
Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and a fervent Israel supporter, was speaking on the podcast of far-right commentator and Israel critic Tucker Carlson.
In an episode released Friday, Carlson pushed Huckabee on the meaning of a biblical verse sometimes interpreted as saying that Israel is entitled to the land between the river Nile in Egypt and the Euphrates in Syria and Iraq.
In response, Huckabee said: “It would be fine if they took it all.”
When pressed, however, he continued that Israel was “not asking to take all of that,” adding: “It was somewhat of a hyperbolic statement.”
The backlash widened sharply on Sunday as more than a dozen Arab and Islamic governments — alongside three major regional organizations — issued a joint statement denouncing the US diplomat’s comments as “dangerous and inflammatory.”
The statement, released by the United Arab Emirates’ foreign ministry, was signed by the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and the State of Palestine, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
They said the comments contravene the UN Charter and efforts to de-escalate the Gaza war and advance a political horizon for a comprehensive settlement.
Iran joined the chorus with its foreign ministry accusing Huckabee on X of revealing “American active complicity” in what it called Israel’s “expansionist wars of aggression” against Palestinians.
Earlier, several Arab states had issued unilateral condemnations.
Saudi Arabia described the ambassador’s words as “reckless” and “irresponsible,” while Jordan said it was “an assault on the sovereignty of the countries of the region.”
Kuwait decried what it called a “flagrant violation of the principles of international law,” while Oman said the comments “threatened the prospects for peace” and stability in the region.
Egypt’s foreign ministry reaffirmed “that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or any other Arab lands.”
The Palestinian Authority said on X that Huckabee’s words “contradict US President Donald Trump’s rejection of (Israel) annexing the West Bank.”
On Saturday, Huckabee published two posts on X further clarifying his position on other topics touched upon in the interview, but did not address his remark about the biblical verse.
The speaker of the Israeli parliament, Amir Ohana, praised Huckabee on X for his general pro-Israel stance in the interview, and accused Carlson of “falsehoods and manipulations.”
Carlson has recently found himself facing accusations of antisemitism, particularly following a lengthy, uncritical interview with self-described white nationalist Nick Fuentes — a figure who has praised Hitler, denied the Holocaust and branded American Jews as disloyal.
