Political upheaval in Pakistan; ‘Darkest chapter’ in nation’s history says PM Shehbaz

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested, May 09, 2023, from inside the High Court in Islamabad by National Accountability Bureau ( NAB) on the charges of corruption in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust, which he owns alongside his wife, Bushra Bibi.

In a pre-recorded statement released immediately after the arrest of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ( PTI) Chairman Khan is learnt to have said that he was “detained on incorrect charges “ and told his supporters that the “time has come for all of you to come and struggle for your rights”.

The statement recorded in advance meant that Chairman Khan had the inkling that he would be nabbed soon by the competent authorities any time soon and thus he (Khan) seemingly remained prepared for the upcoming eventuality.

In a way it was this announcement made in advance by Imran Khan prior to his arrest that added fuel to the fire and the supporters of the PTI-Khan’s political party went on the rampage across the country causing damage to the State properties worth trillions and trillions or even more.

The PTI supporters ran amok and did all they could in order to destabilize the entire Islamic Republic much to the “amusement” of the rival Indian regime and its population-the Godi media included for sure.

For a few days, Pakistan was in flames that we all witnessed through the social media here in Nepal.

The India’s Godi media, as is the habit, twisted the news and aired as per its political advantage. Some even said that Pakistan will soon be controlled by the all-powerful Army. The Army exhibited its restrained behavior though contrary to the expectations.

The PTI supporters ran amok and did all they could in order to destabilize the entire Islamic Republic much to the “amusement” of the rival Indian regime and its population-the Godi media included for sure.

Amidst all these acts of destruction clearly exhibited by the men belonging to the PTI party, the sitting government took a calm posture hinting that it would not be nice to provoke the irate PTI supporters for obvious political reasons.

The PTI followers in their bid to show their strength to the sitting government led by PM Shehbaz Sharif at times even challenged the top hats of the Rangers by destroying their house and other State owned properties.

The Express Tribune states that “in an unprecedented show of vandalism , the PTI men had attacked and caused damage to the historic Corps’ Commander’s House –originally known as Jinnah House and which once served as the residence of the founding father of the Nation- the Quaid!

Media sources claim that the “miscreants who damaged state and private properties during the bedlam, May 09, 2023, included even medical practitioners and engineers.

A press conference organized later by the Police authorities in Lahore, a tantalizing revelation was brought to the fore which stated that some 17,00 plus were involved in the acts of arson and hooligans have been arrested following the arrest of Imran Khan, the Samaa Television reported.

Rebuking the accusations of the acts of arson, the PTI instead shifted the blame somewhere else stating that “there was a plethora of irrefutable evidence to establish that ‘armed scoundrels had entered into the peaceful gathering”.

Shocked by the ghastly destruction caused by the PTI supporters after IK’s arrest, the sitting Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the “incident of May 09 will be remembered as the “ darkest chapter” in Pakistan’s history and has vowed to bring to justice the planners and the leaders of the protest that targeted military installations”.

PM Shehbaz in a straight manner said that “I believe that whosoever planned this and incited vandalism …they are certainly guilty of terrorism, but they also managed to do what the country’s real enemy could not do in the last 75 years.

The PM stated this while meeting the officials of the National Security meeting which was well attended by Army Chief General Asim Munir.

While watching the chaos and the destruction inside Pakistan, I could recall my own country wherein the UML cadres a decade ago dismantled the iron railings and various infrastructure in and around Kathmandu.

The scene then in Kathmandu and the sight seen in Pakistan this time around resembled to a greater extent which gave the message that one’s political leaning is far more superior to the damage thus caused to the nation as and when such sad events take place.

The chaos and disorder that the world could see through social and international media gave an impression that the men of the PTI were determined to cause damage to the colossal order.

Such damages caused by political entities in whatever name or cause can’t be accepted and entertained as a right of freedom of expression which unfortunately gets associated with vandalism that it was to a greater extent visible in Pakistan soon after the arrest of former PM Imran Khan.

Former PM Khan and his supporters claim that it was the Pakistani Army top hats whose faulty and provocative acts caused the damage or else the people or say the PTI supporters just came out to the streets in retaliation of the arrest of their “beloved” leader Imran Khan.

However, the PTI supporters forget the fact that freedom of speech and demonstrations are also associated with “responsibilities” which is what was absent.

The chaos and disorder that the world could see through social and international media gave an impression that the men of the PTI were determined to cause damage to the colossal order.

This is unacceptable. Hamza Ameer writes for the India Today dated May 16 (updated) that the Pakistan Army has decided to show no respite or tolerance towards all elements presumably behind what it termed as a “foreign supported and internally instigated, promoted and provoked attack on military installations and public and private properties”.

Ayesha Ijaz Khan, a Pakistani Twitterati dated May 10, 2023, notes that “ Nawaz Sharif was arrested. Maryan Nawaz was arrested. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was arrested, Asif Zardari was arrested. Faryal Talpur was arrested. All on National Accountability Bureau (NAB) orders. However, No schools were burnt. No ambulances were set on fire.

The PTI reacted like the TLP did when its chief was arrested.

The Oxford graduate Imran Khan to a greater extent lost his hard earned former image as the one of “peace maker” who now is taken at least in Nepal as the one political personality who is yet to discipline his party men/supporters.

The all powerful Pakistan Army, when enough had been enough, aired its feelings, better late than never.

The Express Tribune dated May 13, 2023, writes that the Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir said in Peshawar that “ all the planners, abettors, instigators and executors of vandalism “ on May 9 will be brought to justice”.

This statement as it comes from the all powerful man in Pakistan gives the entire South Asians an impression that henceforth deterioration in the law and order situation across Pakistan shall not only be monitored by the Army personnel but those involved in the acts of recent wreckage caused to the nation shall not be spared and that “justice shall prevail at any cost”.

Army Chief General Munir further said during the course of his lecture in Peshawar that “the armed forces will not tolerate any further attempt of violating the sanctity and the security of its installations”. General Munir added saying that “we shall continue with our endeavors of peace and stability and there will be no room for spoilers of the process”.

Analyzing General Munir’s revelation that all the planners, abettors, instigators and executors of vandalism “of the May 9th shall be dealt as per the laws of the land now in force.

Clearly, the external force which creates chaos and hubbub in Pakistan could also flex its muscles in other smaller countries of South Asia

The question thus is who are the planners? Who are the abettors and the instigators of the May 09th chaotic scene that enveloped Pakistan? Is the Army chief hinting at some internal or even external forces to have added fuel to the fire? Its corollary would be then: Is former Pakistan Prime Minister Khan has tacit linkages with some alien “elements” that caused irreparable damage to the Islamic nation?

The Pakistani intelligence network is considered to be one of the best and strongest in South Asia and is next to none. This further means that General Munir has already located the presumed planners, the abettors and the instigators. The South Asian people would love to know the findings of the Pakistan Army so far it may have collected or compiled so far.

Clearly, the external force which creates chaos and hubbub in Pakistan could also flex its muscles in other smaller countries of South Asia.

Nepal could be no exception.

How the Pakistani army controls the deteriorated situation inside Pakistan will have to be carefully watched. Rest is Pakistan’s internal issue and we have no right to poke our nose into Pakistan’s exclusive matters internal. But yet observers in Nepal would suggest Imran Khan to remain vigilant on the chances of inimical elements’ penetration at such times when the country is in troubled waters. A word to the wise should be enough, we suppose.

Khan must exhibit restraint in the name of the nation he loves so much. It is at these troubled times, declared enemies pounce upon recognized rivals. The message is loud and clear to Imran Khan.

Imran Khan has been released on bail, international media reports.