Pakistan Muslim League (N)

How Imran Khan's populism has divided Pakistan and put it on a knife's edge

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Pakistan’s political crisis has worsened significantly since Khan lost a no-confidence motion in parliament and was ousted from power last April.

Key Points: 
  • Pakistan’s political crisis has worsened significantly since Khan lost a no-confidence motion in parliament and was ousted from power last April.
  • Since then, Khan’s populist rhetoric has stoked divisions in society, leading to extreme polarisation and the violent reactions we’ve seen this week.

Khan takes on the military

    • Khan wanted the then-chief of the agency, General Faiz Hameed, to continue in the role, while the military wanted someone else.
    • The military establishment issued a statement accusing Khan of fabricating the allegations.
    • Read more:
      Shooting of Imran Khan takes Pakistan into dangerous political waters

Graft allegations from the new government

    • Read more:
      What's the dispute between Imran Khan and the Pakistan government about?
    • In the so-called “Toshakhana case”, the government accused Khan and his wife of corruption for illegally keeping gifts given to them by other countries.
    • The case refers to the Toshakhana department in the government responsible for storing expensive gifts given to public officials.
    • Although the government has tightly controlled the mainstream media, Khan’s party has reached its supporters through social media to stoke dissent.

Khan’s arrest sparks violence

    • Khan’s lawyers challenged the legality of the arrest, but the High Court upheld it.
    • Within hours of the arrest, party workers and supporters gathered in many major cities and began openly attacking key military buildings.
    • It is very likely the protests will continue – and with that, increasing levels of violence – until Khan is released.