Imran Khan’s confrontation with the army may end his political career and endanger his life
Pakistan is witnessing multiple levels of confrontations like the supreme court and president, Arif Alvi versus Shehbaz Sharif government and former prime minister, Imran Khan’s head-on collision with the powerful army which may create a civil war-like situation leading to the imposition of either emergency or take over by the army.
Pakistan is heading towards chaos and a civil war-like situation which can be attributed to the confrontation between former prime minister, Imran Khan and the army which rules the roost and commands the authority to create or destroy any government or political leader in this country. Imran’s supporters went on a rampage and the police could do nothing which is allowing the army to step in and control the violence.
IMPACT ON INDIA
The existing turmoil in Pakistan immensely affects India as instability may give an impetus to terrorist groups that are being given shelter by the Sharif government and army. Second, chaos in Pakistan may also give a fillip to the terrorists’ activities in Kashmir and China can exploit such a grim situation to harm India.
ARMY MAY TRY TO REGAIN ITS PRESTIGE
It happened for the first time in the history of Pakistan when a politician like Khan dared to challenge the authority of the army which has endangered his life besides taking a hundred percent risk of ending his political career. Army chief, Asim Munir is playing safe though the present prime minister got full support from the army which may be called if the civil administration collapses. Army is confronting the terror attacks which have increased and people are feeling unsafe. It is a fact that such incidents of terror attacks have been gradually lowering the confidence of the public. Imran Khan’s onslaught on the army was an error of judgement as he may certainly face a vicious type of retaliation in future though the Shehbaz Sharif government may be kept at the forefront. Khan took on ISI which oversees the internal security and is known for infamous tactics to crush even political rivals.
IMRAN’S BIGGEST POLITICAL BLUNDER
The biggest blunder committed by Khan pertains to his assessment of undermining the powerful army which was accused of hatching a plot to kill him. It has been solely responsible for the storming of rangers in the courtroom to arrest him though in a case related to a corruption case involving an allegation of earning billions of rupees through illegal land transactions. National Accountability, an anti-corruption body, arrested Imran with the help of rangers who whisked him away thereby resulting in violence by Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) workers who went on a rampage in several parts of the country.
THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF IMRAN IS UNCERTAIN
Analysts opine that entry into the army may endanger the political career of Imran who may be tried and jailed to keep him away from general elections. Khan may go Nawaj Sharif's way which will create a void in his Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) and new leadership will be required. Shehbaz Sharif seems to be scared of the popularity of Imran after he was ousted from premiership last year with the help of the army. But Imran Khan forgot that the army rules the roost in Pakistan and he undertook a misadventure of lambasting army officials (ISI)for ensuring his defeat in parliament and later conspiring to kill him.
Imran had also accused America of helping Shebahz in snatching the power from him and it had irked the army which keeps in touch with the US administration. Imran Khan was the creation of the army and former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa played the main role but ex-Pm turned against Bajwa and tried to have a say in promotions of the army which was unacceptable hence lost his prime minister’s post.
Khan has been demanding elections in Punjab province and the supreme court had fixed May 15 as a date to hold polls but the Shebhaz government refused to honour the verdict which led to open confrontation. Second, Imran is facing more than 140 cases including Toshakhana's expensive gifts of millions of rupees and a case was filed against him in August 2022 Third, EX PM stands disqualified by the Pakistan election commission on the charges of corrupt practices on Oct 21, 2022.
PAKISTAN’S WOES DO NOT END HERE
It is irony of circumstances that common people in Pakistan are fighting for survival as prices of essential commodities have gone sky high including 20 Kg Atta for Rs 2,100-Rs 2,599, Milk for Rs 120-Rs 130 per litre etc. but the Shebaz Sharif government and main opposition led by former PM, Imran Khan are bloodthirsty of each other one former wants to stick to Chair and latter wants to snatch power which may force the public to come on the streets like Sri Lanka.
Pakistan is facing a serious crisis thereby endangering the survival of democracy which has been compounded owing to the confrontation between executive and judiciary besides the head-on collision of President Arif Ali with the Shehbaz Sharif government thereby putting the future of countrymen at stake. While helping bankrupt and economically depressed Pakistan, IMF has forced it to accept yet another retreat hence Shehbaz Sharif government had to agree to impose a 1 per cent poverty tax on firms earning Rs 15 crore, 2 per cent on those earning Rs 20 crore, 3 per cent on over Rs 25 crore and 4 per cent on Rs 30 crore and above. In the original budget, the government had set a 2 per cent poverty tax only on those earning Rs 30 crore and above. Pakistan’s negotiating team led by Finance Minister, Miftah Ismail, agreed on an understanding on the 2022-23 budget after the authorities committed to generating Rs 43,600 crore more taxes. Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Pakistan’s credit rating outlook to negative from stable due to its sinking economy and lack of resources mobilization. The IMF has not signed an agreement with Pakistan to restart a $6.5 billion loan which has been stalled since Nov 2022 and has endangered economic survival.
Experts say that Pakistan is in deep soup and arson and looting by ex-PM, Imran Khan’s supporters may push the country into anarchy which is not good for the entire region everything will depend upon the role of the army which needs to adopt restraint to save democracy in this troubled nation.
(Writer is a political analyst and a senior journalist)
