Former Prime Minister Imran KhanHis allies were captured. The media and public figures deemed sympathetic to him were threatened or silenced. He was beaten with charges under Pakistan’s counter-terrorism act and face the prospect of being caught.
For weeks, Pakistan has been plagued by a political confrontation between the ruling establishment and Mr Khan, the former cricket star turned populist politician who was ousted from the post of prime minister in the year. now. The film depicts the perilous state of Pakistani politics – a win-lose game in which security forces and the justice system are used as weapons to weed out those who don’t support the establishment. the country’s powerful military or political elite.
That book has been in the works for decades, and it turned the country’s political sphere into a brutal playground that only a handful of elite leaders would dare play. It also caused the Pakistani public to deeply lose faith in the political system and some family dynasties that have been at the top for decades.
Mr. Khan’s own meteoric rise from the political fringes to the prime minister’s office in 2018 is a testament to how tough Pakistani politics have become: His opponents already famous from the electoral field by criminal charges, and threats and intimidation from security forces. While in office, he and his supporters used similar tools to harass and silence journalists and political opponents who criticized him.
Even after failing with military leaders and being sacked earlier this year in a vote of no confidenceThe charismatic politician was able to keep himself and his party in political center of Pakistan. This is a testament to his ability to exploit deep public frustration with the political system and wield the kind of populist power once dismissed by Pakistan’s religious leaders.
That popularity caused the new government, due to Shehbaz Sharif, and the military establishment, began to attract his supporters and has now moved the justice system into Mr Khan himself. But the stale book doesn’t seem to keep him in control, at least for now, and some analysts fear the struggle could erupt into violence.
Zahid Hussain, an Islamabad-based political analyst and columnist for Dawn, said: “The former prime minister has been accused of threatening government officials – those are serious allegations that make The confrontation between him and the federal government became more acrimonious. daily. “Any move to arrest him could spark an already volatile political situation.”
Since Pakistan’s founding 75 years ago, the nuclear-armed nation has been plagued by political upheaval and military coups. Even in the calmest of times, the country’s military has become the invisible hand guiding electoral politics, putting its allies in positions of power and repelling opponents.
The last prime minister to be removed from office before Mr Khan, Nawaz Sharif – brother of the incumbent prime minister – was ineligible to hold office in 2017 on corruption allegations in a controversial Supreme Court ruling. Elder Sharif has sought refuge in London, effectively joining a long line of political figures in exile from Pakistan under the threat of criminal charges.
In echoes of that political scenario, on Sunday Mr Khan was charged under Pakistan’s counter-terrorism act after giving a speech to thousands of supporters in the capital, Islamabad, in which he threatened legal action against senior police officers and a judge involved in the arrest of one of the women. his top dozen recently.
The allegations have deepened friction between the government and Mr Khan, and fueled a wave of reports of harassment, arrests and intimidation against journalists and Mr Khan’s allies in recent years. in recent weeks that many see as a concerted effort by the administration to reduce it. its political prospects.
The crackdown appears to have boosted Mr Khan’s popularity, analysts say, reinforcing his claim that the military establishment plotted to overthrow his government in April.
Madiha Afzal, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, said: “What distinguishes this moment from the moments before it is the sheer street power that Khan has. “And street power makes a difference in Pakistan even if it doesn’t translate into electoral votes.”
In recent months, Mr Khan has regularly dragged tens of thousands of supporters into the streets, where he has lashed out at the current government and the military. Massive public support sparked his hopes of a political comeback, and he demanded new elections, refusing to engage in political dialogue with his opponents.
The crackdown on Mr Khan and his supporters has fueled frustration among young Pakistanis, social media savvy and even older generations about entrenched corruption and hands force of the military in the political system of the country.
Sharafat Ali, a 24-year college student is sitting with her friends at a cafe in the economic center of the country, Karachi. “But such fascist actions cannot stop the people of the country, especially the youth, from supporting Khan.”
Nearby, at a busy market in central Karachi, Jamshed Awan sat on his rickshaw as the traffic throbbed. Like many of his friends and neighbors, Mr. Awan has grown increasingly frustrated with the country’s politics, he said.
“Most areas of the country have been swamped by floods, petrol prices have risen and inflation is at record levels,” Mr. Awan said. “But instead of focusing on these issues, the entire focus of the government is entirely on Imran Khan.”
Over the past two months, Mr Khan has been trying to translate his widespread support into electoral power. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, won sweeping local elections in Punjab – a province that often serves as a focal point for national politics – and in the port city of Karachi.
And despite not backing him as possibly the top brass of the army, Mr Khan retained sympathy within the ranks.
A group of retired military officials have attended pro-Khan rallies in recent months. And his chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill, went so far as to urge officers to refuse to obey their leader during a live TV appearance, leading to his arrest and accusations that he trying to incite rebellion in the army.
Mr Khan said Mr Gill had been tortured and sexually abused while in custody, although senior government ministers and Islamabad police officials denied that claim. As his case escalated on Monday night, police officers in Islamabad raided Mr Gill’s room in the parliament’s motel, officials said.
On Monday, Mr Khan was granted a form of bail, which was allowed in Pakistan before an arrest was made. But many fear that if Mr Khan is ultimately arrested, it will exacerbate the political turmoil that has gripped the country in recent weeks.
Mr Khan’s supporters have warned that Mr Khan’s arrest would be a “red line” and as news of the charges spread on Sunday night, hundreds of them gathered outside the palace. his palatial hillside mansion on the outskirts of Islamabad and vowed to resist.
Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, a close aide to Khan, said: “If this red line is crossed, we will be forced to close the country. “Arresting him will lead to a nationwide uprising.”
Zia ur-Rehman contribution report.
