How Imran Khan went from being blue-eyed boy to Pak Army’s bane?

By Dolly Chingakham: Imran Khan was arrested a day after the Pakistan Army launched a strongly-worded assertion, slamming Khan for his “highly irresponsible and baseless” allegations in opposition to a serving ISI officer.

The unusual outburst from the Pakistan Army was in response to Imran Khan accusing prime ISI officer Major General Faisal Naseer of attempting to kill him twice.

Khan moreover claimed the officer was involved throughout the killing of TV anchor Arshad Sharif. His remarks bought right here at a rally in Lahore on May 7.

This was a purple line that the earlier prime minister crossed, which has apparently worth him dearly. Imran Khan, as quickly as thought-about the blue-eyed boy of the navy, has these days emerged as a bane for them.

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How it began:

In 1996, Imran Khan launched the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), promising to hold democracy, progress and expertise.

Many think about it was the backing of Pakistan’s extremely efficient military establishment that lastly launched Khan to power. The military had fallen out with the dynasties which have been dominating the nation’s political panorama and had been looking for a model new face to once more.

Imran Khan confirmed his willingness to work with the Army throughout the run-up to the election. In an interview with The New York Times in May 2018, he asserted he has no qualms about working with the military. He said, “In my opinion, it is the Pakistan Army and not an enemy army. I will carry the army with me.”

In the same interview, he praised General Qamar Bajwa (Retd.).

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“It’s the first time that I am seeing an army chief saying time and again that ‘I will ensure free and fair elections’, which is the one thing that we want. That’s all I want. This is music to our ears,” Khan had said.

According to those in his party, Khan became the “blue-eyed boy” of the military and by 2018 he was elected prime minister by a slim majority. The Army helped him through the first few years maintain a hold on his coalition partners.

When Imran Khan and Army were on same page:

In November 2018, in a speech to open a new border crossing with India in the Punjab province, Imran Khan said his government, all political parties, institutions, and the army were on “one page”.

In 2020, in an interview with Al Jazeera, he reiterated his claim that he has a “most harmonious relationship” with the army.

According to people within his government, the military “called the shots” during Khan’s first few years in power. Generals were given control of important parts of the government, pro-military policies were passed and the media were tightly controlled. There was also a heavy crackdown on Khan’s opponents, many were put in prison.

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Soon, Imran Khan’s government began to receive criticism over its failure to progress on economic promises and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The military slowly began to withdraw its support.

The downfall:

The dynamics changed dramatically when the army began to grow increasingly frustrated with Khan’s failure to deliver good governance, particularly in Punjab, and perhaps at how they were being publicly blamed by the opposition for propping him to power.

Most importantly, a rift developed between General Bajwa (Retd.) and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd.), who was widely seen to become the next army chief. Lt Gen Hameed (Retd.) was apparently so confident of his prospects that he had told officials in neighbouring Afghanistan he would be the next man in charge of the army.

In October 2021, tensions between the two escalated and engulfed Imran Khan. The tussle between Imran Khan and Pakistan Army surfaced over the appointment of the new Director General (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Khan wanted then-incumbent Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to continue, but a new man was appointed in November 2021, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum.

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The difference between General Bajwa (Retd.) and Imran Khan in foreign policy emerged when General Bajwa (Retd.) condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He took a stand opposite to that of Imran Khan’s steadfast refusal to do the West’s bidding and denounce Russia.

In January 2022, Khan warned the Opposition that he would be more dangerous if forced to step down.

Despite Khan’s best efforts to prevent a vote of no-confidence in April 2022, first by unconstitutionally dissolving parliament and then by threatening martial law, he was ousted from power after dozens of PTI MPs withdrew their support.

After his ouster:

Imran Khan increased his attacks on the military following his ouster. In speeches and on social media, he blamed the military for orchestrating a “Western-backed conspiracy” to topple him.

In June 2022, in a veiled attack against Pakistan’s military, Imran Khan admitted that his government was “weak” and was “blackmailed from in all places” as the power was not with him and “all people is conscious of the place that is”.

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In yet another veiled attack on Pakistan’s Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa (Retd.), Khan alleged that “some elements” in the powerful establishment who indulged in “unhealthy practices” were responsible for his unceremonious ouster from power in April 2022.

In August 2022, he called on the “neutrals” – the term he uses for the military establishment – and said, “History will blame them for what they did to the country.”

In November 2022, he accused the Army of weakening independent institutions in the past and acting together with political dynasties as if “they’re above the law”.

While addressing the “Rule of Law” conference via video hyperlink in January 2023, with out naming Gen Bajwa (Retd.), Imran Khan was quoted, “One person decided to change the [PTI] regime and hatched a conspiracy.”

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The coalition government, he said, had failed to tackle the economic crisis as “it would not have any plan” to restore the economy”.

In January 2023, he requested the navy to refrain from any “political engineering” throughout the nationwide elections which could be anticipated to be held later this yr.

Questions over Imran Khan’s arrest:

The use of Pakistan Rangers, a paramilitary energy led by Pakistan Army officers, to arrest Khan was a giant development that raised questions over the involvement of the military. Some said that the PDM authorities would not have acted and never utilizing a go-ahead from the navy.

The military has increasingly grown cautious of Khan’s continued assaults on it and most of the people accusation in opposition to Major General Faisal Naseer was the ultimate straw. It stays to be seen how the dynamics will change now that Khan is in custody.

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