Will the army compromise with Imran Khan?

May 14, 2024 2:50 am

Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir visited the Lahore garrison on May 9. At that time he told the army officers that there can be no compromise with those who planned to create a black chapter in the history of Pakistan on May 9 (last year).

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan went to the Islamabad High Court last year to appear in a corruption case after he was arrested and his party leaders erupted into protests. In view of this, on May 9, PTI activists carried out massive violence in Pakistan.

Thousands of activists and supporters took to the streets and violently protested to demand the release of Imran Khan. Army installations were set on fire. The headquarters of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi was also not spared from the attack.

Imran Khan was released two days after this incident. But later in August he was arrested again by the police. Thousands of PTI leaders were arrested before Imran Khan was arrested for the second time. As a result, the issue of the army’s conflict with Imran Khan’s party came to the fore.

It has been a year since the incident that took place in Pakistan on May 9. Analysts say that the broken relationship of the army with Imran Khan for political interests has also affected the economy. Its success has made life difficult for 24 crore people of Pakistan.

In the incident of May 9, 2023, one of the strongest forces of Pakistan faced an extreme crisis. The second crisis is due to the absolute victory of Imran Khan’s party leaders in the national elections held in February. In this election, Imran Khan led the party from jail to victory.

Senior PTI leader and former minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Taimur Gharra said that the bad relationship we have with the army is no longer a secret. But it needs to be addressed. Because a strong political party in a state cannot compete with a strong institution.

Since the establishment of Pakistan, the country’s army has led the country from the forefront for more than three decades. After that, the government was elected by the people’s vote, but this army is shaking a stick behind them.

Imran Khan was elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan in August 2018. After that, the opposition leaders alleged that Imran Khan became the Prime Minister with the help of the army. However, four years later, Imran Khan lost the no-confidence vote and was ousted from the post of Prime Minister. He accused the army in this incident. However, the army denied his allegation.

Twelve months after being removed from the post of prime minister, Imran Khan took a long march across Islamabad. He was also shot. But luckily survived. At that time, he was blaming the US for removing him from the post of Prime Minister. Although the United States has always denied this accusation of Imran Khan.

Asma Faiz, associate professor of political science department of Lahore University of Management Science, said that PTI had a close relationship with the army at one time. That is why the leaders and workers of the party have a kind of confidence and they think that the current crisis can be overcome.

He further said that currently PTI is getting support from military, judiciary and bureaucrats. There is also public support.

However, in a statement issued to the media on the anniversary of the May 9 incident, the country’s ISPR said that those involved in the incident must be brought to justice. They attempted a failed coup. The Pakistan Army also described the incident as a black day.