Pakistan Crisis - Dictatorship, Tyranny and Military Coup
This article explains Pakistan’s latest Crisis, Political and economic. The story behind this crisis and the involvement of the Pakistan army in politics and business. The coup, the story of misuse of power, and anti-democratic developments in Pakistan.
9th May 2023, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested by Islamabad High Court. A few hours later, people move to the streets to protest. Protests turn into riots. Violence started. More than 2000 people were arrested. Imran Khan pointed fingers at the Pakistan Army. We witness some historic scenes. First time in the history of Pakistan people were protesting against the army. It is said such instability was never seen in Pakistan’s history. It is called Pakistan’s biggest crisis after 1971.
Let’s understand the crisis
In April 2022, Imran Khan's govt fell when he lost a no-confidence vote in parliament. Since then Imran Khan has been involved in a series of legal cases. Corruption, murder and T3rrorism. Tehreek-E-Insaf Party and Imran Khan are accused of about 140 crimes. 34 cases were only against Imran Khan. This is highlighted by Foreign Policy America News Publication. The arrest of Imran Khan on 9th May was specifically on corruption cases. These investigations were carried on by NAB (National Accountability Bureau).
The corruption case
This case was related to Al-Qadir University Trust. This is a Non-Governmental Welfare Organisation. Which was set up by Imran Khan and his 3rd wife Bushra Bibi. Trust was formed in 2018 when Imran Khan was the Prime Minister. Even as a Prime Minister, he promoted this trust in official events. This trust runs a University. Which is devoted to spirituality and Islamic teachings.
June 2022, Imran Khan was accused of buying lands worth millions of rupees for the university from Malik Riaz a property tycoon. Pakistan’s NAB claims that the Imran Khan govt had a deal with this property tycoon, which caused the Pakistan govt to lose $239 million. Approx 70 Billion Pakistani rupees. This was a Quid Pro Quo arrangement. A favour in exchange for another. The same accusation was levied against several political corporate nexus.
The Arrest of Imran Khan
9th May Imran Khan had gone to Islamabad High Court, to attend a case in a different matter. NAB arrested him from there using paramilitary forces. The scenes of arrest were scary. The way Imran Khan was arrested and the number of officers surrounding him. He said he had been abducted and was shown the warrant only after he was jailed. He was abducted by the army. NAB claimed it was necessary to arrest him because despite giving notices Imran Khan wasn’t appearing in front of them. NAB’s former prosecutor, Imran Shafiq, says although NAB has the authority to arrest someone, in case of repeated absence, the case against Imran Khan is very weak.
According to revised amendments, NAB has to complete its inquiry first. The report needs to be sent to the accused. There is another case where Imran Khan is badly entangled. October 2022, a court in Pakistan ruled that Imran Khan cannot hold any political office for the next 5 years. He cannot contest elections. The Toshakhana Case. Toshakhana is a treasury of gifts. If the price of the gift is less than a certain value, the receiver of the gift can keep it to himself but expensive gifts need to be sent to Toshakhana. The accusation, in this case, was Imran Khan was given many expensive gifts. Imran Khan gave misleading information regarding those gifts and sold them in the market at very high prices. He found respite late on. The court said he still has the right to contend the elections.
Cases on Imran Khan
After he was arrested in the Al-Qadir case, he was detained in the Toshakhana case as well for 8 days. This was the reason Imran Khan Supporters began to protest. Interesting scenes were seen where a young girl was trying to shake the military gate at Headquarters in Rawalpindi. Protestors were gathered outside the Imran Khan house in Lahore. Roadblocks, Tyres were burnt; police used water cannons and in many cases used tear gases. Pakistan’s current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, warned that violent protestors will not be spared. Protestors set cars on fire, and petrol bombs were thrown at the current Prime Minister’s house. Pakistan Army stated that these protests will be remembered as a dark chapter in Pakistan’s history.
Talking about International reactions, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it's Pakistan’s internal matter. On the other hand, the opposition leader in the UK, Jeremy Corbyn, condemned Imran Khan’s arrest. America and Canada haven’t taken any stand. Merely issued a travel advisory to its citizens that travelling to Pakistan is not safe. A famous international organization, “Amnesty International” strongly condemned Pakistan's actions. Especially blocking the internet. Social Media access has been cut off. Internet was restricted whole over Pakistan because of this a lot of Pakistanis suffered losses.
Economic Crisis
The political crisis is not the only crisis in Pakistan. There is a devastating economic crisis as well. Currently, there is record high inflation, 30%. Inflation is so high that International Monetary Fund will have to bail out Pakistan.
3rd problem is the numerous T3rror attacks in Pakistan. The recent attack in Balochistan. Before that an attack on Pakistan 1ran border. In January there was a horrific explosion in Pakistan mosque killing 60 people. Very unstable situation.
A political game is being played between Pakistan Army and Imran Khan. In November 2022, there was an attempt to assassin Imran Khan. He was in a protest march and someone fired a bullet at his feet. Imran Khan pointed fingers at Pakistan Military and said they tried to kill him. He claimed ISI major general, Faisal Naseer, conspired with Prime Minister Sharif and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to kill him.
7th May Imran Khan called Faisal Naseer a “Dirty Harry” and the Pakistan Army’s media wing ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations) strongly criticized Imran Khan’s statement but Imran Khan stood firmly on his words. Before getting arrested on 9th May, he said the same thing on video.
Imran Khan - The New Face of Pakistan
An interesting thing to note, 2018 when Imran Khan won the elections, and became Prime Minister, many people believed that it was with the support of the military establishment and the Pakistan army. Pakistan army is very powerful in Pakistan. For some decades Pakistan army directly ruled Pakistan. There was a military dictatorship. Even when the democratic govt was formed the Pakistan army had indirect control over the country’s politics. The army had an influence on the businesses as well.
2018 Pakistan army was looking for a new face. They found a new face in Imran Khan. This was the reason why Imran Khan in his earlier days as Prime Minister introduced many pro-military policies. Many military officials were given important portfolios in Govt. There was tight control over the media. Opponents of Imran Khan faced a heavy crackdown. Many opposition leaders were jailed. With time Imran Khan lost his favourable position with the military when he lost a no-confidence vote. Since then Imran Khan was openly speaking against the military and with the recent assassination attempt on him, he is directly pointing towards the military. It is said that the Pakistan army doesn’t like it when a political leader gets such popularity that he overshadows the military establishment. Whenever any Pakistani leader tried to take a stand against the army, they ended badly with them. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged to death in 1979 by Pakistan’s military dictatorship after a controversial trial. Another military dictatorship put Benazir Bhutto under house arrest and after weeks of house arrest getting suspended, she was assassinated. Nawaz Sharif, when Imran Khan was the Prime Minister, was locked in jail. Pakistan has such a long history of military dictatorship that 1970, was the first time Pakistan had General Elections. Compare this with India, both were independent the same year and India had the General Elections in the year 1951. Pakistan took almost 20 years to have a General Election. India had a peaceful transfer of power and a golden history.
Tussle with Pak Military
Imran Khan’s problems with the military started in the year 2019, ISI Chief General Asim Munir was investigating corruption allegations against Imran Khan. Imran Khan shortened his tenure. A new ISI chief was appointed, but in November 2022, the Pakistan Army made Gen Asif Munir the chief of Pakistan Army Staff. Pakistan's military establishment is all over Imran Khan trying to suppress his voice. Arrest him or even kill him. There was a chance for Imran Khan to change the system when he was the Prime Minister. He had an opportunity to reduce the Pakistan military’s influence. Opportunity to establish a healthy democracy. He did not do that.
What’s next?
Will the Pakistan military establishment be successful in suppressing Imran Khan? Like the other Prime Ministers. Or Imran Khan will be successful with all the protests and his supporters to take control over the military. If you look back in history in such cases there has been a military coup in Pakistan. There have been 4 military coups in Pakistan. 1953, 1958, 1977 and 1999. Other than this there have been 3 unsuccessful military coups. 1951, 1980, and 1995. 2008 was the most recent year when Pakistan was under a military dictatorship. Since then democracy has taken over. In the history of Pakistan, it has been the first time the protestors have been so angry against the Pakistan Military. Imran Khan’s unbelievable popularity is said to be the reason military power has not been as strong as before.
2023 Elections
Other than Imran Khan’s political achievements it was his achievement in Cricket that has gained him respect. He won the Cricket World Cup for Pakistan. The only World Cup Pakistan won in the 50 overs format. This is why it is said that if the military coup is applied now, the people will protest heavily. On the other hand, if a military coup is not applied and elections are declared the experts feel Imran Khan’s victory is unavoidable. If that happens what will Imran Khan do after winning the elections? If he doesn’t win the elections or if the results are fraud or the military coup is applied, it will not be good for Pakistan’s stability. Many people are demanding elections immediately. Elections are planned for October 2023. Imran Khan is finally relieved from arrest by Pakistan’s Supreme Court. Supreme Court has ruled his arrest as illegal. Imran Khan was released on 12th May on bail. The protests have now cooled down. Celebrations have started. We need to wait and watch what happens next.
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