A Civil War Is Brewing In Pakistan

A Civil War Is Brewing In Pakistan

Despite having nuclear weapons, this country has never had a stable democracy and is now at risk. A power struggle involving Pakistan’s civilian majority, its military establishment, and its corrupt, puppet government is at the heart of the current political crisis.

Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, leads a coalition of 13 political parties, the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement). It is estimated that 60% of the cabinet members are on bail for murder, kidnapping, abuse, or attempted assassination. As a result of corruption charges, Sharif’s brother fled to London.

Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who swept 30 of 37 local elections in recent months, are leading all polls. In a no-confidence vote, bribed members of Khan’s party voted against him. He was then targeted in a daylight assassination attempt in Punjab province on November 3, 2022.

In total, 14 people were injured. Khan, along with the rest of the innocent bystanders, was saved. Bullets struck him three times in his right leg. Witnesses claimed at least three shooters, but the government produced a video claiming a suspect used a hammer to kill Khan for disrespecting Islam.

As Khan alleged, the police refused to register or investigate the case. A social upheaval has made the country face a crisis. Corruption among elites is becoming increasingly popular with the public. Despite having experienced two wars with India and three martial law regimes, this is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

United States forces have intervened in politics for a long time, backed by the military. It has gained a dominant position in the country’s political landscape. Assassinations have been attempted, journalists have been murdered, and members of Khan’s party have been tortured.

There has been an order ordering broadcast networks off the air and discouraging them from broadcasting Imran Khan’s speeches. A vibrant and vocal media has long been vital to Pakistan’s democracy, but this is now changing. As well as the Election Commission, the judiciary and government are under pressure.

One hundred forty-three cases have been brought against the former prime minister, many of which are bogus and ridiculous, most of which relate to terrorism. Tear gas was hurled at Khan’s home by the police while he was travelling to Islamabad for court on March 18.

During his wife’s arrest, they arrested his family members and household staff. They did not have a search warrant. Khan faces threats from all sides, resulting in civil war. In response, if he is killed, there may not be time to prevent large-scale violence from occurring.

In his fight for democracy and the rule of law, Khan, a former cricket legend, is representing the rights of all. At his most recent political rally, he managed to attract the largest crowd in history despite death threats, assassination attempts, false charges, and government roadblocks.

The generals who hold sway over Pakistan’s political scene are under the most threat. United States interests are served by something other than chaos in Pakistan.

Democracy is the only way to stabilize the situation. Human rights organizations worldwide must join forces with the United States to prevent anarchy, chaos, and a renewed dictatorship in Pakistan from taking hold.

Will Pakistan Experience A Military Coup?

As former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi urged all stakeholders on Sunday to begin a dialogue to chart how to resolve Pakistan’s economic and political turmoil, media reports said the country could face a military coup.

From August 2017 to May 2018, Abbasi served as the 21st prime minister of Pakistan, which is governed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party. The former president said martial law is always an option if the system fails or the political leadership cannot resolve a conflict between institutions.

A 64-year-old Pakistani leader said that his country had experienced long periods of martial law in very similar circumstances. Pakistan has never experienced such severe economic and political conditions before. Military control has been exercised under far less extreme cases.

More than half of Pakistan’s 75-plus years have been spent under the rule of the Pakistan Army, which wields substantial power in security and foreign policy matters. It is possible that the powerful Army would also be forced to intervene in the event of anarchy if friction within the society and institutions became too deep.

However, the PML-N leader hoped the military would not impose martial law. Before Imran Khan’s ouster last year, the Pakistan Army repeatedly said it would not get involved in politics.

IMF officials approved the funds in 2019, which analysts say is vital if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on its external debt.

Recently, relations between the judiciary and the ruling coalition have soured as the ruling coalition promoted the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023, limiting the Chief Justice’s ability to act suo motu and appoint a panel of judges to hear cases.

Initially, both houses of parliament passed it, sending it to President Arif Alvi for approval. President Karzai, a member of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, rejected the bill, saying it crossed the boundaries of parliamentary competence.