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| How did the 'affair' of Imran Khan and the army end? |
For the past several years, Pakistan's military establishment believed that in the form of Imran Khan, they had found a savior politician to save the country. However, just a year after stepping down, he emerged as a threat that could lead to the downfall of the military establishment, and the army is now using all its might to protect itself from Imran Khan's censure.
Imran Khan's party is currently facing a nationwide crackdown and Pakistan seems to be at a standstill as a result.
Inflation is on the rise in the country and the hottest summer on record has been predicted. During this time, power load shedding may become the norm.
However, amidst all this, the entire country is confused about what Imran Khan will do next and what our military establishment can do to restrain him.
A year ago, when Imran Khan was removed from power, his supporters said that Imran Khan is our 'red line' and that if he is arrested, the country will burn. After several unsuccessful attempts to arrest Imran Khan, Rangers did the same on May 9.
The country did not burn on a large scale, but the supporters of Imran Khan turned to military cantonments.
The army headquarters GHQ, arguably the most secure place in Pakistan, had its gate broken and people trampled signboards bearing the army logo.
The Corps Commander's House in Lahore was set on fire and Imran Khan's supporters also made videos of burning furniture and vehicles in the house. One protester wore a general's uniform and another took a pet peacock from the house.
It had all the signs of a revolution, but it was not a revolution. Army loved Imran Khan earlier but later they neglected Imran Khan and now his supporters were settling scores. It was more a fight between two lovers than a revolution.
It has now become a norm in Pakistan that every Prime Minister's relationship with the Pakistani Army deteriorates after some time.
The country's first elected prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was executed, his daughter Benazir Bhutto was removed from power twice as prime minister, and her death in a suicide bombing was never fully investigated. Gone.
Nawaz Sharif was removed from power, sent to jail, and then deported. Now once again he is out of the country and is running a proxy government through his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif but still, he cannot return to the country.
After the arrest of Imran Khan, his supporters did what no political party workers have done to date. Instead of protesting on the streets, they attacked army cantonments and showed the public how Pakistani generals live. That is, in large palaces with swimming pools and acres of lawns where peacocks roam.
Shortly before his arrest, Imran Khan had said that Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir wanted to crush his party.
Earlier, he had called former Army Chief General Bajwa a traitor who had played a key role in bringing him to power and providing support during that time.
Imran Khan blamed an ISI general for the assassination attack on him in which he was injured. He and his supporters have been calling the general 'Dirty Harry' in public gatherings.
In the past, many politicians have accused the Pakistan Army as an institution by name, but at least the Pakistanis did not see the scenes of the Corps Commander's House being set on fire, nor were women protesters banging the gates of the GHQ. Nor tearing down statues of soldiers receiving high military honors.
All these were the factors that the current PDM coalition government based on Imran Khan's opposition parties needed to strike back.
The government is currently shying away from the general elections in which Imran Khan is expected to win according to several opinion polls. Currently, most of the politicians in the government are demanding a ban on Imran Khan's party.
In the past too, swift action has been taken against politicians who criticized the army.
Elected Member of Parliament Ali Wazir, who openly criticized the military's alleged sympathies towards the Taliban, was jailed for two years. He was not even allowed to attend the National Assembly session.
So far, thousands of political activists from Balochistan have been facing alleged enforced disappearances and no Pakistani court or central political party is interested in finding a solution to their problem.
So why is Imran Khan still free despite many cases against him?
In this regard, the general impression is that Imran Khan has divided the establishment as well. There are officers and their families in the army who have a soft spot for Imran Khan. On the other hand, there is the judiciary which is extending their bail.
After spending a day in custody, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered him to appear in his court and said, "It's good to see you," and then sent him to a government guest house. The next day, another judge granted his bail.
Imran Khan has won the support of a constituency in Pakistan that hated politics and politicians until his arrival.
was His narrative of justice and corruption-free governance is very popular among the general public, although when Imran Khan himself was in power, corruption not only increased, he jailed many of his political opponents.
However, since his ouster, his supporters have become more fervent and many of them are women and young people who have never voted or attended a political rally before.
He is often accused of political unconsciousness for taking the current crisis out of historical context and claiming that what is happening now is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan. He considers himself a part of a reform movement that wants to remove all corrupt politicians from the country.
Like Imran Khan, he also loved the army. Now they blame the army for everything.
Despite Imran Khan's constant criticism of the army chiefs, many people believe that he does not want to reduce the influence of the army, he just wants the army generals to love him again and support his party eg. What did they do before?
However, after the events of May 9, the army's high command apparently decided that enough is enough. The present Army Chief has termed this day as 'the darkest day in the history of Pakistan'.
Imran Khan may have laid the foundation for a new style of populist politics in Pakistan, but the military seems to be using the same tactics against other politicians in the past against him.
So far dozens of corruption cases have been registered against him and his party leaders and workers have been arrested in large numbers a clear message is being sent that Imran Khan actually crossed the red line by attacking the army.
A song has also been released by the army to make a place in the hearts and minds of the people, saluting the 'military martyrs'.
Similarly, May 9th is also observed as 'Tekreem-i-Shuhada' day in response to attacks on military properties. (Critics point out that no soldiers were killed that day, only that an angry mob set fire to a palatial mansion).
Banners praising the army and pledging eternal loyalty to them are displayed on the main streets of the country's major cities.
The army has also brought religious groups on the streets who had attacked it in the past and they have also shown love for the army.
The Pakistan Army is currently conducting operations against Imran Khan's sympathizers in its ranks.
Law enforcement agencies spent several days trying to arrest a woman, who was allegedly involved in the May 9 protests and finally succeeded. The lady was Khadija Shah who is a fashion designer and a political activist and the granddaughter of former Army Chief General Asif Nawaz Janjua.
She denies committing any crime but it is clear that Imran Khan has managed to convince some 'army brats' (children of military families) to believe her narrative to such an extent that she has now set her own house on fire. Are ready to install.
By arresting Khadija Shah and sending her to jail, the army has sent a clear message to the military families to stay away from Imran Khan's politics.
The army has made mass arrests to break up Imran Khan's party and has talked of trying military courts of activists and leaders who were involved in the attacks on the cantonment.
Imran Khan's senior party leaders are under intense pressure to leave his party. Some leaders have left the party claiming that they cannot be part of Imran Khan's confrontational politics against the army.
Historically, whenever civilian leaders clashed with the military, the military gained the upper hand. Imran Khan has asked his workers to prefer death over a life of slavery. Common Pakistanis have suffered the most in this deadlock and they have no hope.