Pakistan in Political Crisis After Arrest of Former PM
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Earlier this week, Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on corruption charges, vaulting the country into a volatile political crisis.
For Context: Khan, who assumed office in 2018, was ousted in April 2022 in a no-confidence vote due to his loss of key military support. Pakistani elections are due later this year, and if convicted, Khan would be disallowed from running for office, potentially for life. Pro-Khan protestors have reportedly been clashing violently with police and military forces.
An Illegitimate Arrest?: Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled the arrest illegal and ordered Khan’s immediate release. Khan, who pled not guilty, was released on bail Friday, but told CNN he expects to be arrested again.
Internet Blackouts: In an attempt to quell protests, Pakistani authorities clamped down on social media and internet access, disabling Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, and blacking out cell phone service in some regions. Breitbart and BBC News (Center bias) said the move instead bolstered the protestors' efforts.
Bleak Economic Outlook: In an analysis, CNN suggested the upheaval will hamper an economy already suffering from stalled growth and soaring inflation. The International Monetary Fund has been in negotiations with Pakistan about a $6.5 billion assistance program that is now complicated by the crisis. According to CNN, investors are skeptical the two will reach an agreement anytime soon.
How The Media Covered It: The ongoing crisis has been widely covered by outlets across the spectrum since Khan’s arrest Tuesday.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Pakistan social media blackout boosts Khan’s momentum
A state-imposed social media blackout to quell massive protests around the arrest of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan instead fuelled momentum for him, analysts say.
Moments after Khan was detained by a swarm of paramilitary Rangers on Tuesday, the interior ministry restricted nationwide access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Mobile data coverage — used by political activists to organise protests on messenger apps such as WhatsApp, but with far larger effects on the wider populace — was also cut.
But Khan’s supporters quickly found workarounds, leaving social media awash with...
From the Center
Imran Khan: Pakistan's Supreme Court rules arrest was illegal
Pakistan's Supreme Court has ruled that former prime minister Imran Khan's dramatic arrest on corruption charges this week was illegal.
The court ordered Mr Khan's immediate release. His lawyers had argued that his detention from court premises in Islamabad on Tuesday was unlawful.
At least 10 people have been killed and 2,000 arrested as violent protests have swept the country since he was held.
Tuesday's arrest escalated growing tensions between him and the military.
The opposition leader, ousted in a confidence vote in April last year, was brought to court...
From the Left
Pakistan’s political crisis will deepen its economic misery
The political unrest that’s engulfed Pakistan since former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested earlier this week will complicate efforts to secure a financial lifeline from the International Monetary Fund and exacerbate the country’s economic crisis.
Growth has stalled and inflation has soared in the South Asian country of 220 million over the past year. With Pakistan’s rupee sharply depreciating and reserves of foreign currency dwindling, the country has struggled to import essential products like food, leading to deadly stampedes at distribution centers. Fears Pakistan could default on its debt have lurked for...
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