Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, is facing a relentless campaign of political persecution. The country’s chequered political history has long been characterized by a power struggle between civilian politicians and the military establishment. Currently, the military is using all means at its disposal to decimate the PTI ahead of the upcoming elections.
Khan, along with many other PTI leaders, has been imprisoned and sentenced to lengthy jail terms in what legal experts are calling hasty and unfair proceedings. The sentences, which have been criticized for being draconian and disproportionate, are seen as an attempt to silence Khan and prevent him from holding public office for a decade. However, there is a possibility that these convictions could be overturned on appeal, allowing Khan to reenter the political arena in the future.
The PTI has been targeted by a series of cases, leading to the arrest and imprisonment of party workers. The arrests followed violent protests against the military, which the PTI claims were a false flag event. The party is facing multiple cases simultaneously, with the intention of breaking the will and preventing PTI leaders from campaigning and mobilizing their voters. Many who concede to pressure are forgiven after staged interviews or news conferences and are often absorbed into other political parties or retire from politics altogether.
The PTI has been hindered in their ability to mobilize support, with restrictions on holding rallies and the banning of Khan’s image from television. However, the party has adapted by leveraging social media and technology, using artificial intelligence-generated voices to address virtual rallies. The authorities have responded by causing mysterious internet slowdowns during PTI online events, claiming technical faults.
One significant blow to the PTI was the controversial decision to strip the party of its election symbol, the cricket bat. This move has caused confusion among PTI voters, as candidates now have to contest as independents, and the party will be unable to avail the reserved National Assembly seats. To counter this, the PTI launched an app and website to inform voters of their candidates. However, a fake website was created to provide incorrect information, prompting the PTI to host an alternate version on Github, a platform vital to Pakistan’s software industry.
The PTI is counting on the support of young voters, who make up a significant portion of the electorate, as well as a protest vote from citizens tired of political manipulation. However, even with a strong turnout, the PTI faces the problem of elected independent candidates being susceptible to pressure or inducements to join other parties without legal consequences.
Pakistan’s political history is marked by politicians bending to the will of the military establishment. The PTI itself allied with the military to destabilize the previous government, only to face the same selective application of the law and state power now being used against them. This cycle of victim becoming oppressor and vice versa highlights the lack of fair play and democratic norms in Pakistani politics.
In the end, it appears that the military has shifted its support to a different political horse, leaving the PTI to face the consequences. The PTI’s struggle is a testament to the ongoing power struggle between civilian politicians and the military establishment in Pakistan. Whether the PTI can weather this storm and make a comeback remains to be seen.
