It turns out that Khan’s Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party performed outstandingly in Pakistan’s elections despite being in prison. Khan himself was barred from running because of his conviction in a corruption case, but PTI candidates, who had to run as independents, won 91 seats in parliament. Although he is far from taking power, the result signals the success of the risky political strategy that Mr. Khan has been deploying since he was ousted as prime minister in a no-confidence motion in April 2022.
challenge the army
What happened in this election was eerily similar to what happened in 2018. However, the main characters’ positions were different. Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to prison less than three weeks before the vote, and Khan was backed by the military. So too were claims that the election was not free and fair, with the military specifically accused of interfering in the process that propelled Mr. Khan, a blue-eyed boy, to become prime minister. Mr. Khan eventually became prime minister, but he was seen to be interfering in appointments to the military and the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence Agency), which are considered off-limits to civilians, and his relationship with the all-powerful military was limited to four. It got worse within a year.
After leaving power, Mr. Khan challenged the military in unprecedented ways. Within a month of his ouster, he led a “long march” into Islamabad that turned violent. In another incident in November 2022, he was shot in the leg by a gunman who opened fire at a rally in Wazirabad. Mr. Khan accused a senior army official, Major General Faisal Nasir, of attempted assassination. Pakistan’s military refuted Khan’s claims in an unusual statement. “This has been a consistent pattern over the past year of military and intelligence personnel being targeted with innuendo and sensational propaganda to further political objectives,” the newspaper said.
Constant attacks on the Khan’s army had extraordinary and perhaps unimaginable results. The military, an invincible and formidable power in Pakistan, experienced a violent attack on its country in May 2023. After Khan’s arrest, protesters took to the streets and were seen attacking military installations as well as police and government buildings. Shockingly, army headquarters and air bases were targeted.
This was one of the few early signs that Khan’s political gamble to fight the army was paying off. Dividends were also being paid, and Mr. Khan’s PTI was hoping to receive electoral dividends as well.
stir up anti-American sentiment
When Pakistan’s economy faltered and Mr. Khan was unceremoniously removed from power, he trained his guns on the United States. Mr. Khan not only accused the United States of being involved in his ouster, but also accused him of conveying this to Asad Majeed Khan, Pakistan’s then-Ambassador to the United States. Named Donald Lu.
Mr. Khan himself said in a press conference that Mr. Roux had told Mr. Majeed Khan that there would be repercussions if Mr. Khan was not removed. As it later emerged, this meeting took place against the backdrop of Mr. Khan’s visit to Moscow, just as Russia attacked Ukraine, greatly upsetting Washington, DC.
However, Khan continued to insist that a “foreign conspiracy” was behind the rejection of the no-confidence motion. The US has denied allegations of interference in Pakistan’s affairs.
Importantly, immediately after Khan’s victory, the U.S. State Department issued a statement saying, “The United States stands ready to work with the next government of Pakistan, regardless of political party, to advance our common interests.” This is to express concern about the Pakistani regime. Allegations of election fraud – “Allegations of interference or fraud should be thoroughly investigated.”
Countering the “outsider” threat
But over the past two years, Mr. Khan has successfully exploited anti-American sentiments in some parts of Pakistani society. At one point it looked like he had made a U-turn, but he told the Financial Times: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s over. It’s over for me. The Pakistan I want to lead is one that has good relations with all its people. “We must build on the United States, especially the United States,” he said, already fanning the embers of discontent and anger that had taken root in some places since the “war on terror” era. Khan used this as a political tool to stir up suspicion of outsiders meddling in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
Mr. Khan therefore appears to have adopted a political strategy that risks backfiring in order to make a political mark under dire circumstances. That may not lead to any immediate immediate gains in terms of political power, but it could likely keep his support base intact.
(Maha Siddiqui is a journalist who has reported extensively on public policy and world affairs.)
Disclaimer: These are the author’s personal opinions.