Human rights proponents say that since supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan stormed military properties to protest his arrest, political repression in Pakistan has increased.
Results of Pakistan’s general elections on February 8 show that, in spite of a military-backed crackdown on his Tehreek-e-Insaf party, candidates backed by former prime minister Imran Khan won the most seats in the national legislature.However, the results might not push the military to give up its hold on the political landscape.
As challenges to the political party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan rise, concerns over whether Pakistan’s general elections on February 8 would be free and fair are becoming more prevalent.Calls to delay elections in the face of declining security and a lackluster campaign season are another factor raising the uncertainty.
This week, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled that it is illegal to trial civilians in military courts. More than 100 people arrested by the military after supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan stormed military installations to protest his arrest on May 9 are directly impacted by the verdict.
Three days before its five-year term formally coming to an end, Pakistan’s parliament was dissolved on the advice of its prime minister. Despite the fact that it was the third successive parliament in the 76-year history of the country to complete its term, some argue that Pakistan’s democracy remains weak in Pakistan as the military continues to be the center of power.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s top court handed former Prime Minister Imran Khan a big win by deeming his dramatic arrest unlawful. The government immediately condemned the decision.
In response to angry protests over the arrest of the former prime minister Imran Khan, Pakistan’s army has been called upon to maintain security in the country’s capital and two of its four provinces. VOA’s Pakistan Bureau chief Sarah Zaman has this report.
After paramilitary troops arrested former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday on charges of corruption, Pakistan is on edge. Political unrest has plagued the country ever since Khan was ousted last year, and some fear that it will only get worse as Khan’s fans turn their ire on the mighty military
On Tuesday, Imran Khan’s supporters and police clashed outside of his residence in the eastern city of Lahore, injuring a senior police officer. Khan was being sought for arrest for failing to show up for court hearings.
Pakistan says it has administered 155 million COVID-19 vaccine doses as of Friday, fully vaccinating 70 million people, or 30% of the country’s total population, since launching the inoculation drive in February