Politics awakens?

Arifa Noor Published August 25, 2026 Updated August 25, 2026 08: 29am.

Key points

• Since he was arrested before the election, after all, Khan has been locked up and has been out of sight (but not out of mind).
• There is a larger matter here that escapes the attention of those who focus on high politics in Islamabad.
• As did Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N some years back, what will the individuals do?, if he and his party now reach an understanding with the establishment.
• But even the parliamentarians could not take attention away from their neighbours next door.

Arifa Noor Published August 25, 2026 Updated August 25, 2026 08: 29am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

THE long, hard summer is coming to an end, and with it, politics seems to be awakening from its hibernation. It may partly have been the end of the summer holiday at parliament, but for once, the politicians are not simply using the new session to blindly vote for legislation. As party delegations connect for discussions and strategising, the rundown halls of the major building on Constitution Avenue are witnessing some politicking too. Even Maulana Fazlur Rehman. This person has spent the past two years playing hard to obtain, seems to be considering a 'date'. Meanwhile, the PPP, too, is, for once, doing more than paying lip service to the idea of sitting together. The rains have rejuvenated far more than the greenery in the capital.

But even the parliamentarians could not take attention away from their neighbours next door. After months of petitions and chatter regarding Imran Khan's health, the Supreme Court additionally held a hearing on the matter. Perhaps this was due to the 'alarming' report on his medical well-being which created its way to the judges. It is still a bit unclear who ordered it and why but the court asked for a health check-up and a hospital stay for the former prime minister.

What followed the court's order was pandemonium. Since he was arrested before the election, after all, Khan has been locked up and has been out of sight (but not out of mind). A court order which allowed him to meet his family, consult his doctors and stay in hospital seemed impossible concessions, considering the non-stop messaging regarding how Khan was not acceptable to those who matter. In this land, where conspiracies rule the roost and even prove to be true at times, everyone, including the PTI, thought something was up. So did the administration. Indeed, it seemed the administration took a page out of the PTI's book – in which there is more contradiction than agreement.

For context, the administration was proved right as the order was not implemented the way numerous assumed – Khan took a road trip to hospital and then back to Adiala. But it was not the hospital the court had ordered nor did he obtain to consult his own doctor. So, what happened and what went wrong?

Co-option cannot happen at the level of high politics without additionally including the residents.

After all, our courts do not offer orders which will not be implemented. That really isn't how Constitution Avenue works. No wonder some went so far as to think that the hearing came after some behind-the-scenes understanding. And of course, those who believe such fairy-tales then additionally argued that, at the last minute, someone, somewhere changed their mind.

In practice, the finger is being pointed at the administration, for it has the most to lose from any 'relief' given to the PTI and its leader. But it is worth asking if the PML-N component in Islamabad or Lahore has the power or the space to create such decisions. After all, the manner in which Pakistan is being run, the decision to take Khan to hospital and meet his family could not have been lightly taken or at any unimportant level. And so, if it was scuttled, it was done by someone as powerful as the one who created the original decision.

If we allow for these assumptions, does it mean that there is some disagreement at the top regarding how to treat the PTI? The answer to this question will be evident once the court hears the PTI's contempt of court petition and notes something concerning it. The party has already approached the court complaining that the latter's orders were not implemented. That the petition names administration ministers other than Mohsin Naqvi is worth noting.

As an aside, it is interesting that the time period from Nawaz Sharif's disqualification in the summer of 2017 to the vote of no-confidence in April 2022 is similar to the period from the VONC to the present. A little short of five years. Relief from imprisonment doesn't necessarily mean the end of all troubles but it does indicate that there is some softening of attitudes, whatever the reason. But to repeat, all of this will become a little clearer if and when the Supreme Court gets around to dealing with the petition.

There is a larger matter here that escapes the attention of those who focus on high politics in Islamabad. And that is of the individuals, whose backing has turned Imran Khan into the force he is. Sizeable parts of this backing is linked to the anger the individuals feel towards the state's policies of high taxes, an affordability crisis, the lack of security and the absence of economic opportunities. The list may be longer. This anger is why, despite the utter lack of competence displayed by the PTI and the imprisonment of Khan, his popularity has not faded. For individuals need hope and they have pinned this hope on the cricketer-turned-politician.

As did Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N some years back, what will the individuals do?, if he and his party now reach an understanding with the establishment. This is not a question to be ignored. It is illogical to assume that the anger will dissipate just since Khan is issued – even if he returns to power – if the crises facing the populace are not addressed. Individuals will simply dump Khan the way some of them ditched Nawaz Sharif. Will they then still believe in mainstream politics or turn to more extreme options?

Indeed, it is significant to understand that co-option cannot happen at the level of high politics without additionally including the individuals. Those who think this is feasible need to pay a little more attention to what is happening in Balochistan. Parliamentary politics or political parties can be effective only as long as they are linked to and carry the individuals along. The PTI and those engaging the party should remember this. Meanwhile, the writer is a journalist. Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2026.

In short, politics awakens? Is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.