Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)

The former Pakistan PM’s conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case is imminent, say government officials.

Perhaps Imran Khan sees stirring instability as his only way to evade prison and reclaim power.

Khan's party said the government's moves are a desperate response to recent court verdicts throwing out previous convictions against him.

Interestingly, his jailed rival Imran Khan’s supporters showed up in large numbers in Sharif’s traditional stronghold of Lahore.

Whether the delay in elections, and the tarnished delimitation process, abets any party in the February polls remains to be seen.

Parties and politicians are accusing each other of receiving support from the caretaker government.

Since his sentencing Saturday, Khan has renewed his call for mass protests, but has failed to gain traction among his supporters.

Imprisonment could win the former prime minister and his party greater electoral support and strengthen his image as a fearless campaigner for the disadvantaged.

As things stand, it seems neither Khan nor his political party will be permitted to contest elections.

The last year has been been a microcosm of Pakistan’s seven decades of dysfunction, now culminating in ambiguity over the most fundamental of democratic exercises: holding an election. 

Police said that Fawad Chaudhry was arrested on a complaint by the Election Commission of Pakistan that he had intimidated election officials.

Khan has managed to effectively rally against the established political order, but could he deliver on his promises?