Imran Khan: Why protesters are turning on Pakistan’s military after former Prime Minister’s arrest

(CNN) — Pakistan has been reeling since former Prime Minister Imran Khan was dramatically arrested by militias on corruption charges, sparking deadly outbursts of anger against a powerful military that has plunged the country into crisis.

The unrest has spread to several major cities, resulting in unprecedented incidents of rebellious mobs breaking into military installations and setting fire to the homes of military personnel who have long been at the top of power in Pakistan. It directly challenged forces that were normally out of reach.

Pakistan has suffered political instability, regime changes and coups since it won independence in 1947, but the military has historically played a crucial role in power.

The military accused Mr Khan and his supporters of crossing a red line, saying that military property and installations were “systematically attacked” and “anti-military slogans were raised”.

In a statement Wednesday, the military said it would “severely retaliate against any further attacks on the military, including all law enforcement agencies, military and state installations and property,” the first since Khan’s arrest.

“The whole blame will be on the very groups that are pushing Pakistan into a civil war.”

Police said they had arrested six senior politicians from Khan’s party on charges of “inciting arson and violent protests”, adding that more arrests were expected in the near future.

The crisis comes at a time when the country of 220 million people is facing a severe economic crisis. Soaring inflation has left people unable to afford food and fuel, raising concerns about the stability of Pakistan in an election year.

Khan has consistently said in interviews that he is trying to arrest himself to ensure that he cannot escape. The government denied these allegations.

Here’s what you should know:

Khan was arrested by militias on May 9 after police officers stormed a court in the capital Islamabad to detain him on multiple corruption charges.

He has been in “physical detention” for eight days on suspicion of illegally acquiring land to build a university, his lawyer told CNN. Khan is also accused in a separate lawsuit of illegally selling gifts sent by foreign leaders during his tenure.

In a pre-recorded statement released by the PTI to YouTube after his arrest, the former prime minister said he was “detained on wrongful charges” and told his supporters, “It’s time for all of you to come and fight for your rights.” He said. ”

Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Mr Khan’s arrest was illegal, overturning a lower court decision Tuesday that made it legal. The court ordered Khan’s release, according to a source from Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), Khan’s political party.

Mr Khan’s arrest further accelerated an already tense confrontation between the military and his supporters. It had been simmering for months.

The biggest protests took place in Khan’s political strongholds of Lahore and Peshawar, where crowds and security forces clashed.

Hundreds of protesters stormed the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan headquarters in Peshawar and set fire to the building.

at least eight Officials said more than 300 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the clashes. More than 650 people have been detained in Khyber Pakunkhwa state, a government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told CNN Thursday.

Police said about 1,000 Khan supporters had been arrested in the country’s most populous state of Punjab, Reuters reported.

Private schools have been ordered to close nationwide, and some countries, including the United States, have issued travel advisories. The government has blocked mobile internet services and cut off access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to quell the unrest. Popular apps and digital payment systems were also suspended.

Authorities in three of the country’s four states have issued emergency orders banning all public gatherings. Troops have been deployed to Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to provide security assistance.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif called Khan’s supporters “terrorists” and warned them to “act or be punished.”

Perhaps the most famous Pakistani prime minister in decades, Khan has made a name for himself at home and abroad as a politician, philanthropist and sports superstar.

Born in Lahore in 1952, he received a prestigious education, graduating from Oxford University with degrees in Philosophy, Political Economy. He went on to become one of the greatest cricketers of his generation and led the Pakistani side to the World Cup in 1992.

Frustrated by the state of constant corruption in a country historically led by powerful dynasties, he turned to politics and founded his own political party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Inserf (PTI), in 1996. was established.

The party was largely dormant in political wilderness until 2013, with many new voters lured by Khan’s promises to end corruption and economic troubles. The PTI did well in the general election that year, but failed to win a majority.

In 2018, Mr. Khan was elected prime minister with the backing of the military, vowing to eradicate poverty and corruption and promising a “new Pakistan.”

His distinctive brand of Islamic populism has won over young people in a country where anti-American and anti-establishment sentiment is common.

But relations with the generals soured, and last year things changed when Mr Khan was removed from power in a no-confidence vote over claims of economic mismanagement.

The dismissal infuriated his supporters and sparked mass protests as Mr Khan became more vocal about the military’s role in politics.

Last November, Khan survived a shooting at a political rally in what the party called an assassination attempt.

Police and militias have made multiple attempts in recent months to arrest Khan over corruption charges, but one operation in March saw his supporters challenge authorities outside his home. It ended in chaos because it was filed.

And the political change appears to have only made Mr Khan even more popular. Last year, his PTI party won local elections in the country’s most populous state of Punjab, seen as the litmus test for national elections.

Since Khan’s ouster, tens of thousands of supporters have taken to the streets in major cities across Pakistan to protest, chanting slogans against the Pakistani army.

Regarded as a formidable force in Pakistan, the military has repeatedly intervened in Pakistani politics and sometimes directly run the country.

Political leaders have also challenged Khan’s dominance in the past, but analysts say the current situation is different depending on who Khan’s supporters are. .

Saeed Vakir Sajad, a Pakistan researcher at the Wilson Center in Washington, said Khan had “great public support from the urban middle class, which traditionally has not been involved in challenging the military’s role in politics.” It’s unique to be collecting.” .

“This has increased pressure on the military authorities, who are even more hot this time around,” he said.

The military has repeatedly accused Mr. Khan of colluding with Mr. Sharif to remove him from office, and has also singled out senior officials for their involvement in a shooting in which he was injured in November. there were.

Following Mr Khan’s allegations, his supporters have directed their anger at the military and are eager to send messages to the regime on social media.

“The intensity and consistency of the attacks on Imran Khan’s army are unprecedented, especially after he was ousted from office last year,” Sajad said.

“While the long-term outcome of this conflict remains to be seen, it is clear that relations between Pakistan’s military and civilian government have always been fragile, with power struggles frequently devolving into open conflict.”

With Mr Khan in custody, the situation remains tense on the ground, and so far there is no clear exit to the crisis.

All this puts Pakistan in a precarious position and raises concerns about “the stability of the country,” Sajad said.

“It is very likely that the military authorities will declare a state of emergency in the country and keep former Prime Minister Imran Khan in prison for a long time, because no political actor is powerful enough to pose a serious challenge. Khan’s PTI in the polls,” he said.

“We do not anticipate any dramatic change in the situation in favor of the current government. Meanwhile, the military cannot afford to allow Mr Khan to return to power.

But it was “extremely important to keep in mind” that such a move could have “serious consequences” for the country’s democratic institutions, he added.

“Invoking a state of emergency would likely result in the suspension of civil liberties, the suppression of political opposition and the curtailment of press freedom,” he said. “This could lead to further insecurity and instability, making it difficult for Pakistan to attract foreign investment and sustain economic growth.”