Pakistan is on the verge of civil war the violence in the country has erupted because of the detention of former prime minister Imran Khan. Many of his supporters say he is being held illegally, however, the judicial system he set up to indict and convict former PM Nawaz Sharif thinks differently.
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Pakistan is a country divided
Pakistan is a country divided, split with those who support Imran Khan and those who favour Nawaz Sharif, you could argue it’s literally split down the middle, but it is also divided by demographics, the young generation are all in favour of Imran and the older generation favour Nawaz or his brother Shehbaz Sharif.
As a consequence you can see the knock on effect on how the two generations show their support. One is young, ambitious and energetic and furious. The other is calm, understated and resilient. But ultimately it would be remiss for foreigners to assume that he has the support of the majority.
There is no doubt a victim of petty legislative loopholes and his detention is outrageously beneficial to the government and the army because they fear upon his release he will lead a national movement to overthrow the government.
Pakistan is on the verge of civil war
His popularity has increased because they have made him a political martyr; but they have not been able to break his spirit and leave politics.
Imran, promised a utopia, fix corruption, a socialist agenda and prosperity, but he had a rather unsuccessful reign as Prime Minister. For context it was during covid, but the allegations of corruption, branding him ‘Mr U-turn’, and a failure in diplomacy. Ultimately he was unable to deliver the prosperity he promised, he was finally ousted by a vote of no confidence.
Conversely, the Sharif reign has focussed more stability and development in the country which has always been there USP “by hook or crook, we get it done”. The downside is this involves more IMF loans and concessions to the American military.
Pakistan on the Brink: Protests and Political Turmoil
Pakistan is teetering on the edge of civil unrest and protests and political turmoil as the illegal detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan has triggered widespread violence across the nation.
Protests and Escalating Violence
Supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party took to the streets last week in protest against his detention, leading to violent clashes with security forces. Demonstrators have been met with a harsh crackdown by the powerful Pakistani army, with reports of protesters being shot in the streets. Casualty figures remain unclear due to a media blackout enforced by the military.
The unrest reflects the deepening divide within the country, with Khan’s detention serving as a flashpoint for broader dissatisfaction with governance and the military’s dominance over national affairs.
Media Blackout and Military Control
The Pakistani army, often regarded as the country’s most influential institution, has moved swiftly to suppress coverage of the protests. That has been personally verified by WTX News staff. Media outlets have been restricted from reporting on the violence, and access to social media platforms has reportedly been curtailed to prevent the spread of dissenting narratives.
We’ve been ordered to drop all coverage of PTI and not even to refer to Imran by his name, by a senior army official or risk losing our media outlet
Verified International media outlet
The military’s pervasive control extends beyond security matters, as it oversees significant infrastructure projects and wields influence over both political and media landscapes. This dominance, critics argue, has allowed it to suppress dissent while insulating itself from international scrutiny.
Implications for Stability and Foreign Relations
Political stability in Pakistan is critical to maintaining international support and avoiding external intervention. However, the escalating violence and the army’s heavy-handed response risk exacerbating calls for U.S. involvement or international condemnation.
You cannot deny the involvement of US state department in his ousting, there is clear evidence that the US passed messages to opposition leaders in return for military bases in the country; something Imran emphatically refused to allow again.
Observers warn that prolonged instability could undermine Pakistan’s fragile economy and strain its relationships with global partners, particularly at a time when the country is grappling with economic challenges and regional tensions.
How bad is the corruption in Pakistan
It is difficult to ascertain how or who is corrupt; corruption exist in local levels to national, embedded within institutions that will exist, no matter who is in power, Some argue, this is how Pakistan runs, others argue this is how the establishment exploit the poor. The term corruption in Pakistan is used as an emotional vindictive slur, but sadly, whether you are a PTI supporter or a PLM-N supporter the way you conduct your business on a personal level will involve some sort of corruption, whether that is directly or indirectly because you are enabling that.
One thing is for certain Imran’s supporters claim they are being silenced ( And there was detentions for all his party members who were abducted until they denounced there party by the Army). On the other hand you the Sharifs who claim that PTI supporters are deliberately causing instability and violence on the streets, putting the police and authorities in a position where they are forced to restrain. Either way, it is a boiling pot which is ready to burst.