he political situation in the country took a turn for the worse following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan as dozens of people were killed and injured in the ensuing violent clashes.

The future of talks between the PTI and the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition also looks grim following the developments. Khan’s arrest and the messages issued by him and some other PTI leaders apparently caused his supporters to go berserk and attack military and government offices in many parts of Pakistan.

With help from police and rangers, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested Khan from Islamabad High Court on May 9 where he was waiting in a room for biometric verification. The security forces stormed the office and took him into custody. This sparked country-wide violence. Several important offices were attacked and set on fire. Caretaker governments in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa called in the army under Article 245.

Later, the Islamabad High Court declared Khan’s arrest legal. The next day, an accountability court granted the NAB investigators eight days’ physical remand for his interrogation in the Al-Qadir University case and a sessions court in Islamabad indicted him in the Tausha Khana case. This led to more violence in the Punjab and the KP.

On May 11, the PTI filed a petition chief justice of Pakistan constituted a three-member bench headed by himself and directed the authorities concerned to produce Khan before the court in an hour. Khan was brought to the SC amidst tight security. The CJP told Khan that he was happy to see him. The court then ordered his release, declaring the arrest illegal, and setting aside the IHC verdict. The court also remarked that Khan should negotiate with his opponents. “Although you dislike them, you must talk to them for improve the affairs,” said Justice Bandial. The CJP also directed the authorities to house Khan at a guest house in Police Lines, Islamabad. He told Khan to appear before the Islamabad High Court on Friday.

If the PDM and the PTI follow the apex court’s instructions and hold another round of talks, they might reach an agreement on the election to the National Assembly and the four provincial legislatures on the same day. In such a scenario, the PDM will present the annual budget in the first week of June. Once it is approved by the parliament, the National Assembly and the two provincial assemblies will be dissolved. If the assemblies are dissolved on June 15 the elections may be held by September 15.

The CJP had earlier issued a stay order against the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill, passed by the parliament; interpreted Article 63A; set the date for elections to the Punjab Assembly and directed the PTI and the PDM to hold talks on the election schedule. Though the advice for talks appears commendable, the court has come under strong criticism for constituting benches in the ‘political’ cases.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief organizer Maryam Nawaz has already demanded the resignation of Justice Umar Atta Bandial.

Earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a strongly worded press release, calling May 9 as a black day in Pakistan’s history on account of attacks on army offices by ‘protesters’. The ISPR warned the miscreants of strong action.

There is a growing impression that Khan and the PTI are still getting support from within the state.

Some PDM insiders say the alliance had discussed the idea of banning the PTI after the violence. However, the PPP and the ANP had opposed the proposal. PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto said on Thursday, “I will be the last person to support the idea of banning the PTI although it has been attacking state installations.”

It seems that the tussle between the Judiciary and the Executive will intensify over the coming days. There is an impression in the PDM parties that Khan is set to get relief from the courts in the other cases too. Further, there is an apprehension that if any of the subordinate courts or a high court rules against the PTI and its leaders, such ruling will be overturned on appeal.

The only way forward, it seems, is a dialogue between the political forces for the sake of saving the democracy. If the PDM and the PTI follow the apex court’s instructions and hold another round of talks, they might reach an agreement on elections to the National Assembly and the four provincial legislatures on the same day. In such a scenario, the PDM government can present the annual budget in the first week of June. Once it is approved by the parliament, the National and the two provincial assemblies can be dissolved and elections called within 90 days. If the assemblies are dissolved by June 15, the elections can be held by September 15.

If the government and the PTI don’t hold the proposed talks or fail to reach a consensus, the chances of holding elections in 2023 are slim because elections cannot be held in so tense a situation.

The writer is a senior journalist, teacher of journalism, writer and analyst.

He tweets at @BukhariMubasher