After the release of Imran Khan: Government of Pakistan calls for mass protests

Amid fierce political infighting, Pakistan’s governing coalition has called on its supporters to organize mass protests. The appeal followed the release of popular opposition leader Imran Khan, who on Friday left a court in the capital Islamabad for his hometown of Lahore under tight security.

Monday’s call for protests in Islamabad could be understood as an attempted demonstration of strength by the government coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against Khan’s supporters. A conflict between the two camps has been smoldering for months. Given the economic crisis, the South Asian country is divided.

Khan’s arrest last Tuesday had created new tensions. Several people were killed in street fighting and for a short time there were even rumors that the army would intervene after supporters stormed bases. The government dismissed the concerns. A new arrest is not ruled out. Then chaos can break out again. Some politicians, backed by the military, are calling for tougher legal action against Khan.

In about 100 cases, the former prime minister must answer to the court. Experts see the move as politically motivated after Khan fell out of favor with the military. The 70-year-old is likely to speculate on re-election in parliamentary elections scheduled for the fall. Khan was released on bail. If convicted, he could be barred from political office.

The former cricketer came to power in the 2018 general election amid allegations that the powerful military had rigged the vote in his favour. Despite his great popularity, the former prime minister disappointed during his tenure. His government was repeatedly accused of mismanagement as the country plunged into an economic crisis. Even under Khan, the opposition was paralyzed by allegations at the time. In April 2022, he was finally overthrown by a vote of no confidence.

Since the foundation of Pakistan 75 years ago, unrest and instability have reigned in the South Asian country. The mighty army ruled for more than half of this time. And even under civilian governments, generals were seen as the power that could decide whether political leadership was successful or not. The nuclear power safety apparatus has long been highly regarded in the fight against Islamist terror.

Khan has been fighting for a political comeback for almost a year. He mobilized tens of thousands of supporters at national events. Recent tensions erupted in November when Khan was shot at a rally. Khan then blamed the Secret Service. The security services denied any involvement. “Pakistan is facing unstable, dangerous times,” expert Madha Afsal recently told the New York Times. (sda/dpa)