Imran Khan became the 22nd PM of Pakistan in 2018. He also formed the government in two provinces, Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan population-wise, and Frontier and sensitive province KPK which has a border with Afghanistan and is the most affected region of Pakistan regarding terror attacks.
Before becoming the PM, Imran Khan was popular among the masses of Pakistan because he was the captain of the 1992 cricket World Cup winning team. He was also well-known in the Western world because of his fame in sports. He formed the Political Party named Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) in 1996, which eventually became successful in coming into power in 2018 after a political struggle of 22 years.
Let’s start with the fascinating story of the sudden fall of Imran Khan and his rebirth from the ashes of adversity.
PM Khan’s Historic Visit to Russia
The Russian visit of PM Imran Khan was arranged almost eight months ago, it was the first visit by any PM of Pakistan to Russia in the last two decades, and the foreign office of Pakistan was optimistic about this visit. Imran Khan reached Russia on 23 Feb 2022, but the irony of fate is that the next day, Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine while the important visit was in progress. This gave the wrong impression of Khan to the West, but Khan said that my visit was for the 220 million Pakistanis and I had nothing to do with the Ukraine war. We would stay neutral like India, just allow us the luxury to remain neutral.
Fall of Khan’s Government
When Imran Khan returned to Pakistan, political chaos awaited him. 20 MNA’s (Members of the National Assembly) of his party shift their loyalty towards the opposition alliance of 13 parties, The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). MQM and BAP Parties, allies of the Khan-led PTI government, also left the government. After that, PDM filed the Vote of No Confidence motion in the national assembly of Pakistan on 8 March 2022.
Khan announced that he will address the public gatherings in Islamabad on 27 March 2022. In his speech, he claimed that he possessed the diplomatic cable of the USA in which they have shown a desire to oust me, and revealed the USA threat that if VONC (Vote of No Confidence) failed, then there would be consequences to the State of Pakistan. In his speech, he also gave a clue that Pakistan’s military establishment is also behind the toppling of his government as they imposed four martial laws and were indirectly involved in overthrowing many governments in Pakistan.
On 3 April 2022, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan dismissed the VONC motion against Imran Khan and wrote a letter to the Supreme Court to investigate the matter of diplomatic cable. But, Supreme Court declared the ruling of the Deputy Speaker null and void and gave the order to hold the voting against Imran Khan on 9 April 2022, that’s how Imran Khan lost the government and PDM Leader Shebaz Shareef took oath as the 23rd PM of Pakistan on 10 April 2022.
Unstoppable Waves of Public Uprising
On the night of 10 April 2022, the world witnessed some unusual scenes on the roads of Pakistani cities. People burst out onto the streets without any official call from Imran Khan, and they protested against the unfair ousted of Imran Khan. Overseas Pakistanis also came out and recorded their protest against PDM and the military establishment.
This was the turning point that outplayed the PDM because they had no idea that most of the Pakistanis will become angry with them. Because just a month ago, Imran Khan became unpopular among the masses due to inflation and the economic meltdown. Imran Khan started addressing public gatherings in major cities and bashing military leadership and the PDM alliance, and his narrative has become stronger day by day.
Increasing Tensions with Military Establishment
Pakistan Army was the only famous institution of the country; the people of Pakistan loved and cheered for them even if they imposed martial law because they thought that their political elite was corrupt to the core, but Army was not. But the table was turned after the military clash with Imran Khan because he is the only politician in Pakistan who was not facing corruption allegations. That’s why popular support goes with Khan, not with the military. It’s the first time in the political history of Pakistan that the nation took a stand with any politician contrary to the tradition of supporting the Army chief.
The Narrative Building by PTI Social Media
PTI was the only political party with an organized social media wing and many volunteers up to the task. Pakistan’s 60% population lies within the age group of 18-35. They were all emotionally attached to the armed forces because of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, launched by Army in 2014 and eradicated terrorism from the country. Unfortunately, terrorism started again at the end of 2022.
PTI Social Media was working parallel with Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), which is the information wing of the Pakistani Armed Forces, they are promoting the state narrative and fighting propaganda warfare alongside Army, but everything changed after the ouster of Khan from the office. Like any young population in other countries, all youth use modern communication methods like social media. When they see the clear battle lines drawn between Army and Imran Khan, they choose Khan.
That’s the reason that the military establishment of Pakistan starts panicking for the first time in 75 years of the history of Pakistan. They were losing the battle of narratives. Wherever you see social media, there are posts against the armed forces. Everyone called out Army for the chaos created in the country. Army had believed that the nation will support them like they always do, but they forgot that it’s a digital world which has changed their perception towards the establishment.
Human Rights Violation
After nationwide criticism and protest against the military establishment, the military had two options: either accept the nation’s will or suppress the voices against them. They went for the second option and used the old playbook of using force against voices raised against the military and their proxy government in Islamabad.
The people of Pakistan strongly believe that Government in Islamabad is just a puppet of the military. They don’t have absolute power, and that’s why criticism against the military is higher than PDM. They were just losing power, that’s what they fear the most, and they start human rights violations against Social Media activists, Journalists, and Political Personalities of PTI.
Some examples are Ayaz Amir (Journalist on Dunya Tv), who was beaten down on the road by 8 to 10 people, and Jameel Farooqi (Bol News Anchor), who was stripped naked and tortured. Arshad Shareef (Anchor Ary News) was assassinated in Kenya, and Shehbaz Gill (Chief of Staff of Imran Khan) was brutally tortured in custody and stripped naked. Assassination attempt on Imran Khan himself in Wazirabad (City of Punjab), Azam Swati (PTI Senator) dragging from his house and filmed naked. The video was further sent to her daughter.
Every citizen of Pakistani society knows that the political government of Pakistan can’t do this type of extreme violation of human rights. More powerful forces are behind all this, and the whole world knows who they are.
Electoral Battle of Punjab Province
We have told you that PTI formed the government in two provinces in 2018, Punjab and KPK. In Punjab, khan was betrayed again by his 25 provincial assembly members and lost the province of the Punjab Government. But the constitution said that disloyal members would lose their seats if they went up against their parliamentary party guidelines. That’s why seats are vacated, and Elections were held on 17 July 2022, and PTI won with a thumping majority, regained their lost province, and formed a government again.
Imran Khan wants to push the federal government for a general election. That’s why he dissolved the two provincial assemblies (KPK & Punjab), and the constitution states that an election must be held after 90 days of the dissolution of assemblies. But, the Election Commission of Pakistan released a press release that we cannot uphold the election because the federal government said that we don’t have a budget to give you. Army also said that we can not provide any troops for election purposes.
Supreme Court Verdict
PTI filed a petition against Election Commission in Supreme Court for not upholding the elections in 90 days. Supreme Court gave the verdict on 4 April 2023 and declared the election commission decision about the election null and void and gave direction to the federal government to release the grant of 21 Billion Rupees by 10 April 2023 to the Election Commission and to provide the security is also federal responsibility, the federal government must ensure the safety of citizens of Pakistan. Supreme Court has now given the polling date of 14 May 2023 for Punjab, but the federal cabinet condemned the decision of the Supreme Court, and it looks like more political chaos is coming in Pakistan.
Economic Meltdown
All of this political chaos over the last 12 months has had severe repercussions for the economy of Pakistan. The dollar shoots up from 170 to 290 rupees, Federal Reserve’s lowest in history, below 3 to 5 billion dollars. This economic situation brings the PDM government to its knees, and they now think we are trapped after taking the government last year. But it’s too late now.
Beacon of Hope
People of Pakistan, especially the youth, consider Imran Khan, a saviour of the country. They believe in him, they often say that either the corrupt will survive or we as a nation will survive. The same thought process is happening in the rival camp, the military establishment also thinks it’s a war of survival. They fear that if Khan came back again in power, he would try to curb the power of the military, and they can’t allow it ever.
That’s why they are ready to go to any extent to delay the election till Khan becomes unpopular or his party breaks down into pieces. A fierce political battle is coming in the upcoming months in Pakistan. If the election is going to be held, it would end in the victory of Imran Khan.