On Tuesday, two days after Imran Khan was ousted as leader of Pakistan prime minister in dramatic no-confidence voteNur Alam Khan is a politician and former member of Khansky party – dined at restaurant when he ran into another visitor.
The man started shouting “traitor”, “American agent” and “defector”, and then rushed over hit Khan, who tried to ignore him. in the middle of in the restaurant, a politician and an angry voter started a brawl, with food and tables are scattered.
For Nur Khan, who was among dozens of members of Supporters of Imran Khan who recently switched sides and voted against his in in no-confidence vote the incident culminated of growing abuse he has faced in recent weeks since former prime minister supporters.
“I was followed and faced death threats because I announced what i would vote against Imran Khan in in no-confidence vote,” he said. “They called me and said: we kill you and yours children like Benazir Bhutto [former prime minister who was assassinated] because you are an American agent and you have been betrayed prime minister Imran Khan.
Similar chaos followed on Saturday at the camp of The Punjab Assembly was to discuss the elections of a new main minister as supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Khana (PTI) party and opposition MPs began to aggressively oppose each other, and Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari was attacked by members of treasurer’s benches.
In a tweet after the incident, Khan former information minister and close ally Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that Pakistan is “inches away from full blown civil unrest”.
“Imran Khan showed maximum restraint,” he said. “Highly soon even he won’t be able to stop this very angry mob and we’ll see the country plunge into civil unrest.”
Khan, Pakistan’s top cricketer, has become a devout Islamist prime minister elected in 2018 on wave of populist sentiment out against West and Pakistan powerful political dynasty, who was wrapped in allegations of corruption. But while his charisma and populist rhetoric never failed to pull in in crowds at the rallies also oversaw the period of huge financial riots and massive inflation that devastated economy.
After losing support of in powerful militaryopposition moved in with a no-confidence vote backed by many of their own coalition who lost faith in in prime minister. Shehbaz Sharif, leader of opposition coalition and brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was elected through national assembly to replace it.
But removal of Khan has in No way led to death of populist politics he brought up at the time in office. Many fear that the deep polarization cultivated by Khan may prove deeply destabilizing for Pakistan, pushing the country into more political upheaval than new prime minister, who known more for his skills as an administrator than a charismatic leader, may be unable to hold back.
In recent days, an inflammatory battle cry of Khan, who gone back out on in campaign drag with pleasure, it was “Gaddari– traitors – with anyone those who oppose him, be it his political parties, media activists, intellectuals and the judiciary are tainted as part of “foreign conspiracy” to oust him.
Pervez Hoodbhoy, analyst who wrote in detail on Khan, called former prime minister “a true populist.”
“Khan polarized Pakistan to such an extent,” Hoodbhoy said. “The coming days will be chaotic as his insatiable lust for power makes it really dangerous for this country.”
Evoking popular anti-Western sentiment he played on for in past four years in officeKhan continued to insist that no-confidence vote who overthrew him was a “foreign conspiracy” of the west citing diplomatic correspondence with USA to prove This is.
The US vehemently denied this and did not provide conclusive evidence. of shows a conspiracy. At a rare press conference on Thursday, Major General Babar Iftikhar, spokesman of armed forces, dismantled Khan’s story and rejected the claim that the diplomatic cable contained evidence of foreign intervention.
Iftikhar, referring to a diplomatic message, said: “Is any word used, such as conspiracy, in This is? I think no.”
He also clarified that the US never asked for army bases in Pakistan that Imran Khan used as “evidence” of why usa wanted expel him. However, the position of in military institution with a huge power in country, has also made its members are aimed of a social media campaign led by supporters of the khan, who see the army as played role in in prime minister fall from power.
Dozens of thousands of tweets have been sent in recent days criticizes the army. On Wednesday, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested 12 people. social media activists who reportedly directed these campaigns, which Iftikhar described as “illegal, immoral and against national interest”.
On the streets of towns and cities across Pakistan, the narrative that Khan was the victim of a Western conspiracy, powerful and all-pervading, and thousands keep coming out in protest in support of his.
Addressing the huge crowd on On Wednesday, Khan said the turning point had come and the nation had to make a choice: wanted “Slavery or Freedom” from USA. Khan blamed opposition leaders of being “imported” government” who are “slaves of USA” and said that he and his supporters would on streets until new elections are held. announced.
Muhammad Banaras, 35, resident in Islamabad, said Khan was first prime minister “think of the poor and challenge corrupt.”
“Khan spoke about Islam, the rights of Kashmiris and against corruption. West and USA against him, they don’t want Pakistan great nation. We should support Khan in This fightBenaras said.
Rima Omer, lawyer who became a victim of a long online trolling campaign supporters of Khan, said that Khan was creating wave of public anger that could prove difficult to control.
“This story is based on no evidence and has been refuted many times,” Omer said. “However, Imran Khan follows the play of Goebbels, using “convenient lies” that evoke strong emotions and spew hatred and contempt without caring about how dangerous consequences can be for society.”
Khan is expected to challenge next general elections likely to be called before the end of in the year, many predict unstable times ahead for Pakistan. “I wasn’t dangerous when I was in governmentKhan said. on Wednesday, address to the rally. “But I will now.
