Recently, Pakistan Rangers arrested their Ex-Prime Minister, Imran Khan from the high court in Islamabad. Imran khan was present in the high court for the hearing of his cases but in middle of the hearing the rangers raided the court and took Imran Khan from the court. The rangers were well equipped with helmets and riot shields, as if they were prepared for any resistance that would have occurred while arresting him. According to latest news on Imran Khan, the rangers have taken him to a place that is unknown to anybody and have refused to disclose any information about the place where he is being kept. Imran Khan was arrested or can be said to be ‘kidnapped’, by the rangers without proper warrant or evidence provided by the court.
Unrest in Pakistan
Imran Khan’s arrest has deeply affected Pakistan, Pakistani civilians are coming out of their houses and started protesting against the army to release Imran Khan. Some have also started attacking the military bases as well as the armed forces. The people have started destroying the armed vehicles, military outpost as well as war memorial buildings. They even destroyed a dummy Plane outside the Airforce base. Before Imran Khan was arrest, he had said to the people in a rally that, if anything happens to him then ISI Officer, Major-General Faisal Naseer, will be responsible. And also said that, Faisal Naseer tried to kill him twice and was also involved in the brutal murder of a senior journalist Arshad Sharif. Now that he has been taken away by the rangers, the people are thinking that he is arrested and is being tortured by the army because of his braveness that he had showed by criticizing the army and establishment for their role in disrupting the democracy and suppressing the voice of the people. Imran Khan has always been vocal about the atrocities that the Pakistani Army has been committing and about how they were ruining the country and its resources. Now that such a leader, who is believed to be the greatest leader that Pakistan had in the recent years, is arrested by the army, people would obviously get angry and start to protest. Moreover, the country has ahigh inflation rate that has even crossed Sri Lanka, the country which has declared itself as a defaulter, and due the high inflation rates people have no choice but to come to roads and protest for a change in government that would make their lives more comfortable. Seeing the violence done by the protesters, the governmenthas deployed the army and shut down internet in many parts of Pakistan.
It can be called a coincidence that before the arrest of Imran KhanPakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Shariff,had gone for a visit to United Kingdom for the coronation of the King Charles, even though many countries didn’t send their Prime Minister or President but sentsome senior officers to attend the coronation. Moreover, Pakistan’s army chief is also on a visit for Oman. Both Pakistan’s’ Prime Minister as well as Army Chief is not presentin thecountry when the country is undergoing such a huge protest. In between all this, there are reports that Pakistani Government has deployed the army to handle the protesters. Seeing that the government has deployed army in some states, PTI (Pakistan Tarikh-e-Insaff ) says that Pakistan is now under Martial Law, as there are chances that the army can overturn civilian government and take power into their hands due to uncontrolled violence. Pakistan is at an edge, one more push and Pakistan would be in a ‘civil war’.
USA and Western World’s Hypocrisy
Imagine, if this incident was happening in any other country than United states of America, United Kingdom, Canada as well as many European Countries together, would have said about Free Speech, Human Rights and would also have protested against the internet ban, but in case of Pakistan their tone is different. USA, UK and Canada have issued travel advisories for their citizens in Pakistan and told them to go out Pakistan as the situation could worsen. The most spine-chilling thing is that the USA and UK commented on this situation, that the Rule of law should be followed in Pakistan, i.e., everything happening to Imran Khan is ‘OK’ and whatever the army is doing under the pretext of law is OK.
USA and Western world’s hypocrisy can be seen with a simple example; in Russia, there is a popular politician named Aleksy Navalny, who used to protest against Putin, Russia’s President, and organized rallies to protest against the corruption done by the Russian Authorities. Later he was imprisoned for his action against Putin and in retaliation many people protested against the Russian authorities and demanded to release Navalny from prison. At that time USA and its allied countries didn’t comment that the ‘rule of law’ should be followed but instead showed their full support for Navalny and criticized Russian Government for their unjust actions. As if this was not enough, their media channels also published news articles supporting Navalny and even released a Movie on Him, which also got the Oscar Prize.
In both the cases of Russia and Pakistan respectively, the difference can be seen easily, one side is Navalny who is soft towardsUSA and talks about removing Putin from power, and on the other side is Imran Khan who criticizes USA for using Pakistan as a hired gun and even blames USAfor making hisgovernment fall from power. On this basis USA has a different tone towards Imran Khan than Navalny.
This shows that the western countries along with USA are not very interested on working for human rights and free speech, but only speak for these only when they want to pressure a country’s Government on certain issues.
FAQ:
Why is Pakistan burning after Imran Khan’s arrest?
Recently Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan was arrested by the Pakistani Rangers from the Islamabad high court without any prior notice. After he was arrested, his location was not shared to the media and it is still unknown where he is being kept. Before his arrest, he said to the public in a rally that if anything happens to him, then ISI OfficerMajor-General Faisal Naseer would be responsible for it. Now that he has been arrested and some reports say that he is being tortured by the army, the people have started to attack the army and demand the release of their leader. Seeing the violence, the government has decided to deploy army in many states. PTI, has said that Pakistan is under Martial Law. Pakistan is truly at an edge, one more push and there will be a ‘civil war’ situation.
Why was Imran Khan arrested in Pak?
Recently, Imran Khan was arrested or should say kidnapped by the Pakistan Rangers from the Islamabad High Court during a hearing. He has 121 cases, including corruption and Blasphemy, upon him. Imran Khan is believed to be the best leader Pakistan had in the recent years; therefore, he has a strong support from the public. He was arrested mainly because of his speech against army and establishment, in which he criticized the army and establishment for their corruption and atrocities. In a rally organized by PTI, he announced that ISI officer Major-general Faisal Naseer tried to kill him twice and if anything happens to him in future Faisal Naseer would be responsible. After his arrest, to protest against the army, the public has started attacking the armed forces and the military headquarter, they even burnt a plane in front of the Airforce base. Seeing all these violence Government has deployed army to control the citizens. PTI says that the country is now under Martial Law.
Why are people protesting in Pakistan?
Recently Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan was arrested by the Pakistani Rangers from the high court without any prior notice. After he was arrested, his location was not shared to the media and it is still unknown where he is being kept. Before his arrest, he said to the public in a rally that if anything happens to him, the ISI chief would be responsible for it. He even stated that ISI, Pakistan’s Intelligence office, tried to kill him many timesand was also involved in the brutal murder of a senior journalist Arshad Sharif. Now that he has been arrested, some reports say that he is being tortured by the army, the people have started to attack the army and demand the release of their leader. People has also attacked a military outpost in an Army base. Seeing the violence, the government has decided to deploy army in many states. PTI (Pakistan Tareek-e-insaff), has said that Pakistan is under Martial Law. Pakistan is truly at an edge, one more push and there will be a ‘civil war’ situation.