The Facts
On Wednesday, Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif asked Pres. Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly to make way for the general elections under an interim government.
The announcement comes after former PM Imran Khan was barred by the Election Commission of Pakistan from contesting any polls for the next five years, after he was convicted for "corrupt practices" last week.
The Spin
Narrative A
Imran Khan's arrest is illegal and politically motivated. The accusations against him are entirely fabricated; his opponents are pursuing 80 different cases against him — including completely baseless allegations of murder, sedition, blasphemy, and terrorism — hoping that something will stick. Sharif wants to remove Khan from the electoral contest because he fears his popularity among voters.
Narrative B
The arrest of Imran Khan is not politically motivated; he is legitimately being accused of theft and corruption. Khan's denial of every accusation merely demonstrates his desire to avoid accountability in every way. His case has been investigated thoroughly, and the verdict followed due process. The ex-PM's five-year disqualification from politics is a fair and just outcome.
