ISLAMABAD: The former Punjab provincial minister and senior politician Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan has criticised former British prime minister Boris Johnson over what he described as interference in Pakistan’s internal political and judicial matters.
Chohan questioned Johnson’s reported comments concerning Pakistan’s political situation and the legal proceedings involving former prime minister Imran Khan.
Chohan argued that foreign political figures should exercise caution when commenting on the internal affairs and judicial processes of another sovereign country.
Chohan strongly objected to Johnson’s reported statement suggesting that Pakistan’s most popular political leader was being gradually pushed towards death.
He questioned the basis of such remarks and said that a former British prime minister should respect the legal and institutional framework of another country.
Chohan also compared the political and judicial systems of Pakistan and Britain, arguing that Pakistan’s courts have provided extensive opportunities for legal proceedings in cases involving Khan.
During his criticism, Chohan referred to Johnson’s political record in Britain, particularly the Partygate controversy involving gatherings at Downing Street during COVID-19 restrictions.
The UK House of Commons Privileges Committee concluded in 2023 that Johnson had repeatedly misled Parliament over the gatherings. Johnson resigned as a member of Parliament in June 2023 after receiving an advance copy of the committee’s findings.
The House of Commons subsequently approved the committee’s report by 354 votes to seven.
Chohan used the episode to question whether Johnson was in a position to criticise judicial and political developments in another country.
Chohan further argued that Pakistan’s legal proceedings against Khan have involved lengthy hearings and extensive participation by defence lawyers.
He contrasted this with Britain’s legal system and pointed to cases in which people convicted of offences connected to riots received lengthy prison sentences. His remarks were presented as an argument that different countries should be allowed to administer their own judicial processes according to their respective legal frameworks.
The comments reflect Chohan’s political interpretation of the situation rather than an independent assessment of the merits of the cases against Khan.
Chohan also challenged Johnson’s concerns about Khan’s treatment in prison. In strongly worded remarks, he suggested that Johnson should spend several days in Adiala Jail if he wanted to understand the conditions under which Khan is being held.
He further claimed that Khan had received substantial facilities during his imprisonment, contrasting those facilities with conditions experienced by prisoners elsewhere. These claims were part of Chohan’s political commentary and were not independently established in his remarks.
Wider Claims About Foreign Influence
Towards the end of his analysis, Chohan alleged that international lobbying networks and foreign interests were attempting to influence Pakistan’s political and institutional affairs.
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He argued that Pakistan’s sovereignty, state institutions and security structure should not be undermined by external political pressure. He also said that opponents of Pakistan were increasingly relying on what he described as misinformation and propaganda.
