Rama Krishna Sangem
Pakistan former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested by the army rangers on May 9, Tuesday, plunging the country into chaos. For the first time in recent memory, mobs took to streets and attacked army’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi. They raised slogans against the army and ISI demanded immediate release of Khan, who was taken into custody on corruption charges. Army opened fire on the protesters.
It’s ironic that 70 year old Imran Khan, cricketer turned politician, who launched Pakistan Tehrik-e -Insaf (PTI) in 1996 mainly to battle corruption in public life of his country finally caught on corruption charges. Of course, he firmly rejected these charges as politically motivated and baseless. He was arrested on the premises of Islamabad High Court as he came to attend a hearing on this corruption case.
Khan who became PM in 2018 and had to quit after he lost a trust vote,pressed by combined opposition in April 2022. Since then, Khan was agitating seeking restoration of his post. He attacked the US and army for plotting his ouster and then tried to makes amends with the army top brass and ISI. However, the incumbent PM Shebaz Sharif and foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto strongly opposed any compromise with Khan.
Maybe barred from contesting polls
Going by things that led to his arrest, Khan may be barred from participating the upcoming parliament elections in September-October this year. That the elections will be held as per schedule later this year was stated by Bilawal Bhutto , when in Goa, he gave an interview to an Indian TV channel. After Khan drew huge crowds in his marches across Pakistan, there are doubts over army permitting him to participate in the polls.
Imran Khan a few days before alleged that the army was plotting to “abduct and kill” before the elections. He said, he faced a threat from the army. This is a reason why his fans and supporters of PTI went on rampage in the streets and resorted to massive violence. As disturbances in neighboring country is a cause of worry, India is closely observing the unfolding developments in Pakistan and their fallout.
