Former US envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has warned Pakistan against taking steps to disqualify Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan from running for election and even prohibiting PTI, despite being advised by the Foreign Office to stay away from domestic issues. Khalilzad claimed that setting up Imran Khan as Enemy No 1 of the State would only deepen Pakistan’s triple crises: political, economic, and security, and warned that international support for Pakistan would decline further, while political polarization and violence would likely increase. Khalilzad advised Pakistani political leaders to rise above destructive petty politics that undermine the national interest and urged the Supreme Court to refuse to be used in games that undermine the nation’s interests. Last week, the Foreign Office reacted strongly to Khalilzad’s “lectures” and told him that his feedback was not needed. PTI has engaged lobbying firms in the US, and a number of Congressmen and other influential figures have spoken in favour of the former prime minister.