ISLAMABAD — Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s continuous anti-establishment rhetoric and multiple corruption convictions have placed him in what officials describe as a “political dead end,” with insiders asserting that any possibility of his release before 2036 now appears virtually impossible.

According to well-informed sources in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the establishment has completely ruled out any political deal with Khan, whose street power has diminished considerably since the violent attacks on military installations in May 2023. “He is no longer seen as a threat to the current setup,” one senior official commented.

Additional Convictions Looming

Imran Khan, already serving 10 years in the Toshakhana corruption case and 14 years in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, is likely to face further jail terms. Sources claim he could be sentenced to another 10 to 14 years in the upcoming Toshakhana-II and GHQ attack cases — both of which are now in advanced stages of trial. Khan has boycotted proceedings in the GHQ attack case, which began recently.

If no extraordinary judicial relief is granted, these convictions could extend his imprisonment well into the next decade. Legal experts estimate that if found guilty in both pending cases, Khan could remain behind bars for at least another ten years.

Growing Dissent Within PTI

Moderate leaders within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) privately admit that the party’s confrontation with the military has backfired disastrously. “What’s happening to Imran Khan today is the direct result of his policy of confrontation,” said one PTI insider, adding that most senior leaders never supported this approach.

Khan’s recent decision to sideline the PTI’s parliamentary leadership — and instead appoint leaders from the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party as opposition heads in the National Assembly and Senate — has further weakened the party’s internal resistance.

Compounding the situation, Khan reportedly pushed Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur aside and installed pro-Taliban hardliner Sohail Afridi as the new chief executive of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Intelligence officials claim Afridi has been involved in planning another “march on Islamabad,” echoing the chaos of previous years.

Diminished Street Power

Khan’s insistence on confrontation culminated in the violent events of May 9, 2023, when PTI workers attacked army properties, followed by another failed mobilization attempt in November 2025. In response, the state exercised its full power, effectively neutralizing PTI’s street strength. Today, his protest calls attract barely a handful of supporters.

Legal Deadlock and Appeals Backlog

Even PTI’s more pragmatic members admit that Khan’s release remains improbable as long as his confrontational posture continues. Complicating matters, the legal proceedings surrounding Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are entangled in procedural delays.

Their appeals in the £190 million corruption case — in which both received 14-year sentences — were filed on January 31, 2024, but have yet to be scheduled for hearing in the Islamabad High Court. According to the court’s “fixation policy,” cases are heard in order of filing, with priority given to death and life-imprisonment cases. Given the existing backlog, legal experts see “no realistic chance” of a hearing this year.

Establishment’s Strategy and Prosecutorial Tools

Government sources claim that prosecutors have sufficient legal options to prolong ongoing trials, ensuring Khan’s continued incarceration even if he secures bail or acquittal in certain cases.

An official familiar with the prosecution’s stance said: “Even if Imran Khan is acquitted in major cases by the High Court, his release could still take years due to pending appeals, fresh indictments, and procedural tactics.”

With the Toshakhana-II case nearing completion and the GHQ attack case underway, officials say any relief for the former premier is unlikely before 2036 — unless there is an extraordinary judicial or political development.