…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media. Former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricket legend, Imran Khan’s arrest has sparked nationwide protests, with some turning violent.
The country’s political crisis has worsened since Khan lost a no-confidence motion in parliament and was ousted from power last April.
Since then, Khan’s populist rhetoric has led to extreme polarization and violent reactions.
Before leaving office, Khan shifted his anger towards the army and its then-chief, General Qamar Bajwa, claiming they were trying to bring down his government.
The military establishment issued a statement accusing Khan of fabricating allegations.
Khan has faced a flood of other allegations, ranging from corruption to sedition.
This week, Khan was arrested on corruption charges related to another case involving the Al-Qadir University Trust.
Within hours of the arrest, party workers and supporters gathered in many major cities and began openly attacking key military buildings.
The military was singled out due to Khan’s earlier allegations that the army conspired to oust him from power and also the fact he was arrested by rangers and not the police.
Khan takes on the military
Before leaving office, Khan blamed the United States for conspiring against his government and trying to push him from power.
Khan shifted his anger towards the army and its then-chief, General Qamar Bajwa, claiming they were trying to bring down his government.
Khan and the military were once close.
Many of the leaders in his party claimed it was perhaps the first time a civilian government and the military establishment were on the same page in Pakistan.
But the relationship started to fray over the appointment of a new head of Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s powerful intelligence agency, in 2021.
Graft allegations from the new government
After removing Khan’s party from power last year, the Pakistan Democratic Alliance formed a government and immediately began targeting Khan and his party officials in whatever ways possible.
The government accused Khan and his wife of corruption for illegally keeping gifts given to them by other countries in the so-called “Toshakhana case”.
Khan has faced a flood of other allegations, ranging from corruption to sedition.
The new government’s pursuit of Khan has sparked anger among his supporters.
Khan’s supporters
The new government has made several attempts to arrest him in recent months.
A small team from the federal police was sent to his house in Lahore in March, but faced heavy resistance from Khan supporters.
Although the government has tightly controlled the mainstream media, Khan’s party has reached its supporters through social media to stoke dissent.
Khan’s arrest has sparked violence.
Within hours of the arrest, party workers and supporters gathered in many major cities and began openly attacking key military buildings.
Analysis and Commentaries
The arrest of Imran Khan has triggered protests that are now targeting military and other institutions in Pakistan.
The country has been struggling with political unrest and violence for many years, with Khan’s populist rhetoric stoking divisions in society, leading to extreme polarization.
Before his ouster, Khan shifted his anger towards the army and its then-chief, General Qamar Bajwa, claiming they were trying to bring down his government.
This accusation has led to a strained relationship between Khan and the military.
The new government’s pursuit of Khan has sparked anger among his supporters, with the government accusing him and his wife of corruption for illegally keeping gifts given to them by other countries.
The government’s efforts to arrest Khan have been met with heavy resistance from his supporters, who have used social media to stoke dissent.
Khan’s arrest on corruption charges related to another case involving the Al-Qadir University Trust has sparked violence across the country, with party workers and supporters attacking key military buildings.
The military was singled out due to Khan’s earlier allegations the army conspired to oust him from power and also the fact he was arrested by rangers and
Read More On The Topic On TDPel Media
Breaking News