by B. R. GOWANI
Imran Khan
former cricket hero turned politician Imran Khan founded PTI in 1996
PTI stands for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or “Pakistan Movement for Justice”
with Pakistan Army’s blessing, Imran Khan was elected, rather selected
when the Army wants its candidate to win, it could manipulate the result
thus Imran Khan became Pakistan’s 22nd Prime Minister on 18 August 2018
Khan and the Army were “on the same page,” according to Imran Khan
but then differences arose between Khan and the Army
through a vote of no confidence Khan was ousted on April 10, ’22
Army claimed it had nothing to do with Imran Khan’s ousting
everyone knew that military was behind the vote of no confidence
in February 2021, the Army had announced that it will not interfere
the then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in November 2022
“… our army which day and night remains busy in serving the nation, is often made the subject of criticism.” “A major reason for this is the army’s interference in politics for the last 70 years which is unconstitutional.
“This is why in February last year [2021] the army, after great deliberation, decided that it would never interfere in any political matter. I assure you we are strictly adamant on this and will remain so.”
but the army did intervene
since then Khan has been demanding a fresh election
the coalition is neither in a hurry nor in a mood to conduct an election
but Khan was abducted, literally, on May 9, 2023 on corruption charges
the paramilitary forces had entered the Islamabad High Court
they entered it thru the window after breaking the window glasses
this is something new and has happened for the first time in Pakistan
he was released within days on order of the Supreme Court
at present, Imran Khan’s house is besieged by police
to date more than 100 cases have been registered against Khan
PTI leaders are either quitting under pressure or are being arrested
Shehryar Afridi, Ali Haider Zaidi, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Shireen Mazari, Sanam Jaweid, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ali Muhammad Khan, Maleeka Bokhari, …
Mahmood Baqi Maulvi, Aamer Mehmood Kiani, Sanjay Gangwani, Karim Gabol, …
many were released on court orders but then were rearrested
this seems like the beginning of the end of Imran Khan’s party
there was vandalism, burning, and protests in the wake of Khan’s arrest
the military wants to try the people under Pakistan Army Act, 1953
this shows that military doesn’t want the civilian government to be free
many people have opposed, including PPP’s R Rabbani
China, S. Arabia, & UAE are urging Pakistan to resolve differences amicably
one year back, Ayesha Siddiqa had rightly pointed out
“A direct intervention [from the Pakistan Army] is always an option, but so far things are fairly manageable.”
but now things are unmanageable — Army has an opponent who’s fearless
(it doesn’t mean Khan is a saint, like all others, he’s a hypocrite too
first time in Pakistan’s history, someone has openly challenged the Army
it is said that
“Pakistan is an army with a country, not country with an army”
up until Imran Khan’s ouster, Pakistan Army was beyond criticism
it was some kind of a sacred institution
criticizing the Army was viewed as a blasphemy
is Army going to back out and let the politicians resolve their differences?
not likely …
the Army has started its game of breaking and making political parties
many more from PTI will quit as police and Army oppression intensifies
the remaining members will be arrested, released, arrested …
tiring them through court proceedings and keeping them from politics
chances are the Army won’t kill Khan as it hanged Z. A. Bhutto in 1979
not because Army has become merciful but because of the social media
but mind you: if nothing works than all options are on the table
forced exile, accidental murder, hanging on trumped-up charges …
irony:
Sharifs
PM Nawaz Sharif was overthrown in 1993, Army played a role
in his second term, he was ousted in 1999 by General Pervez Musharraf
his brother Shehbaz (then governor of Punjab) was removed from power
both Sharifs and their families were exiled to Saudi Arabia
in 2007, Sharifs returned back to Pakistan despite objection by Musharraf
if liberal Benazir Bhutto could come back, why can’t conservative Nawaz
Musharraf was a liberal
Nawaz was again removed from power on corruption charges in 2017
today, both Nawaz and Shehbaz are supporting the military
Bhuttos
Z A Bhutto was removed from power by Gen Zia-ul-Haq on July 5, 1977
on false charges, former PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged on April 4, 1979
his daughter Benazir was forced out twice: 1990 & 1996
Benazir was assassinated in 2007
her son Bilawal, the current foreign minister, supports the military
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com