EDITORIAL: Pakistan under siege – Telangana Today

Imran Khan’s arrest will only push government and military establishments deeper into controversy

Pakistan has been plunged into an unprecedented economic crisis and a resurgence of terrorist attacks, but recent developments — the dramatic arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan from a courthouse, followed by nationwide unrest — have plunged the country into utter disarray. There is widespread concern that the situation has crossed the Rubicon and that the time may be ripe for a military takeover. While the official line is that Pakistan Justice Instigation (PTI) chief Imran was detained over a land scam involving him and his wife, the real reason appears to be his claim that a senior ISI official was plotting to assassinate him. The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, seen as the most popular in the country, was taken from the Islamabad High Court building by Pakistani rangers after beating up his lawyers and security guards. Since Imran has been clashing with the powerful military establishment, the provocative move is widely believed to be not that of Prime Minister Sheikh Baz Sharif’s civilian government, but that of the Pakistani army. Spontaneous outbursts of public anger saw his supporters storm the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the regiment commander’s residence in Lahore, a rarity in a country where the military is firmly in control. Lahore is now all but cut off from the rest of the province after massive protests on major roads including entry and exit points. In a pre-recorded video released after his arrest, an emotional Khan claimed Pakistan’s fundamental rights and democracy had been buried.

While the military establishment’s reckless treatment will certainly boost Imran’s image as a fighter for democracy, the rapid deterioration of the situation may not allow easy escape for any participant involved in this unsavory political affair. The new developments all but dashed hopes of a negotiated solution to break the current political impasse. Imran’s arrest will only push the government and military establishment deeper into controversy and will lead to greater public distrust and resentment. Since ousting the prime minister in a no-confidence vote last April, Imran has gained cult status as a people’s hero and has publicly challenged the top ranks of the military with a series of allegations. He has been campaigning against the military and the Shehbaz Sharif government that replaced him in his bid to call early national elections. If all goes according to the army’s playbook, Imran will likely be convicted in one or more of the numerous cases against him and disqualified from running for office, suffering the same fate as his predecessor Nawaz Sharif. As long as elections continue to be delayed and the public remains silent, the ongoing confrontation will only create a wider rift between the people and the country.