Imran's decisive political gamble

Imran Khan’s intention to fight a decisive battle against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over Panama Papers, both in the Supreme Court as well on the media with his new-look firebrand team comprising lawyers-cum-TV hosts, is an indication why he and veteran lawyer Hamid Khan could go along well in this case.

With a trio of senior lawyers – Babar Awan, Naeem Bokhari and well-known host/analyst versatile Fawad Chaudhry as PTI’s main spokesman – Imran made his intention clear as how he wants to contest the Panama Papers case, inside and outside the Supreme Court, something which Hamid Khan had opposed.

It appears Imran now wants to go more aggressive outside the court and would create media hype through faces quite known to media, who also host their own shows.

While Bokhari is not doing any talk-show at the moment, he is well-known host. Both Awan and Chaudhry have their own shows on two different TV channels, besides appearing as analysts as well.

With Hamid out and his trusted man Naeem-ul-Haq (PTI information secretary) also pushed back a little with a surprise responsibility assigned to Fawad, the move clearly indicates Imran's anxiety in this case.

How much this strategy would work out depends on what happens inside the Supreme Court, which is the key as everyone awaits the next hearing on Nov 30.

Thus, the Bokhari-Awan-Chaudhry trio would be interesting to watch while the role of Imran's own spokesman and Naeem has somewhat been marginalised.

Imran's planned strategy seems to be keeping the issue alive and even if the party gets a setback inside SC, the trio or at least Awan and Chaudhry could overcome outside the court. The strategy was changed after the last hearing which disappointed the PTI chairman.

Awan and Chaudhry – considered to have close links with the PPP – can also become a bridge between PPP and PTI. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari sent a goodwill message to Chaudhry on being appointed as PTI spokesman while the new PTI leader always regards Bilawal as a potential leader with a vision.

It is also interesting to note that Imran preferred Awan over Aitzaz Ahsan who too has been giving the PTI chairman free legal advice. Awan had not only defended Mr Zardari and Benazir Bhutto's Swiss account case but is also the PPP lawyer in the petition demanding retrial of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's alleged judicial murder.

Sources said although Imran personally was more in favour of Aitzaz and had publicly appreciated his position, he did not support the move of fighting the case in the Parliament and as joint opposition, which Aitzaz always pleaded.

It is the decisive phase or second and final innings in Imran’s politics before the next general elections after suffering back-to-back setbacks since the judicial commission’s findings in the rigging issue.

Imran's differences within PTI are also quite well known as Hamid belongs to the group which had supported former PTI chief election commission Justice (retired) Wajihuddin's ruling on rigging in intra party polls against Jahangir Tareen and others.

After Hamid distanced himself from the Panama Papers case, Imran got so frustrated that he indirectly hit, saying, “I had won many big matches with weak teams as well."

This was an admission of his present legal team which though comprised competent lawyers but he still felt that it’s weak.

After these changes in the PTI’s approach, it is no more a mystery why Hamid Khan had disassociated himself as he believes that the case in the Supreme Court could only be won if fought professionally and not politically.

Awan's choice was never an easy decision for Imran because of their past differences. Awan defended the Swiss account case and his position is still unchanged, while Imran believes BB-AZ transferred money to the Swiss bank. Yet, the two are on the same page over Panama Papers. But what will happen if both Imran and Awan meet the press and are asked about the Swiss account.

Imran likes aggression in Awan, the very reason for his liking of veteran Sheikh Rashid. But will they be able to deliver?

While Bokhari, who has recently joined PTI, will be the lead lawyer in this case, all eyes would be on the role of PPP-associated leader still considered close to former president Asif Ali Zardari.

Interestingly, Awan is not only veteran in his field and aggressive but also known to media for more than one reason.

It would be quite interesting if Awan had taken Zardari into confidence before becoming part of PTI's case, particularly at a time when some PPP leaders like Latif Khosa had termed it weak, while Bilawal demanded Nawaz Sharif to accept his four demands before December 27, and the return of Zardari by the second week of December.

Awan also has the capacity to bridge the gap between Imran and Zardari, but at what cost? Imran believes that both Sharif and Zardari had looted Pakistan while Awan has given a clean chit to the PPP leader in the Swiss case.

However, Awan also knows that Zardari has an amazing flexibility in politics but always plays his cards according to the situation. If today, he criticised Imran in his interview with Hamid Mir, he would not hesitate in meeting him, if situation demands.

Problem would be on Imran's side as he has hired a lawyer who would be trying to proof a case against Sharif without supporting the perception that both Sharif and Zardari are corrupt.

There has been lot of diversity in Imran's approach towards politics and his political track record – just like that of his marriages – is also marred with controversies.

However, the PTI has also taken a risk by hiring Awan because of the strained relations with judiciary since the days of former chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry due to which he was once even suspended by the top court.

His presence may further dilute the presence of Bokhari who otherwise has a charming personality and is also known to media, but soft when compared to Awan.

During the very first hearing of the case, it was clear that Imran is not happy with Hamid. The PTI chairman looked quite anxious when they came out of the Supreme Court, as why the SC did not start day-to-day hearing and was advised by Hamid to wait for the reply from Sharif.

So, one wonders whether the real reason was media or PTI for Hamid, as it is now clear that Imran wants to take both fronts head on and is not happy with the performance of Hamid.

With the kind of evidence submitted by PTI in the case, what additional proof will Awan submit?

It appears that the PTI legal team may do three things on the next hearing: (1) may oppose the formation of judicial commission and may ask the bench to hear the case; (2) may request the SC to summon the Qatari prince; (3) reopen the LNG case and its link with Saif-ur-Rehman.

Hamid should not have any complaint against media which by and large has supported Imran and PTI's position over Panama Papers and some have even become the judges rather journalists. So, it is better if Hamid should looked towards problems within the party of not providing him enough material other than press clipping, TV talk-shows and some excerpts from Asad Kharal's book.

The PTI and Imran have certainly made Panama Papers a national issue against Sharif, as it all came by chance and he used it quite well except that by creating too much media hype, he raised his own party and media's expectations about the possible outcome.

What if they lose this case? What will be PTI's politics in the post-Panama Papers case? Or the initiative will be shifted back to the PPP which is gearing up for a movement in 2017, the year of election campaign?

The PTI is at crossroads because a defeat in this case would only add to the heavy baggage of bad decisions taken in the last three years, mostly the fault in the strategy rather on the issues.

The writer is a senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang.

Twitter: @MazharAbbasGeo