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2022–2023 Pakistan political unrest

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2022–2023 Pakistan political unrest
Part of 2022 Pakistani constitutional crisis
Date10 April 2022 (2022-04-10) – present
(2 years, 4 months and 4 weeks)
Location
 Pakistan Countrywide
Caused byNo confidence motion against Imran Khan[1]
Goals
  • Provincial elections in Punjab and KP [2]
  • Early national elections
    • [3]
Methods
StatusOngoing
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties and losses

2022 Azadi March I 1 March – 5 PTI workers dead[7]

2022 Azadi March II 2 March – Female Journalist dead[8]

Zill-e-Shah (Mentally disabled PTI worker)[9]

  • Ex-SAPM Shahbaz Gill (Tortured) [10] [11]
  • Ex-Minister Azam Swati (Tortured) [12]
  • PTI's Social Media Leader Azhar Mashwani (Abducted) [13] [14]
  • Imran Khan's nephew Hassan Niazi (Arrested) [15]
  • PTI second-tier leadership crackdown [16] [17]
  • Senator Shibli Faraz (House Raided) [18]
  • Crackdown PTI Social Media Team [19]
    • 18 security officials injured[20][21]

    The 2022–2023 Pakistan political unrest is an ongoing political crises established after the ousting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no confidence motion in April 2022.[1] In 2022, the Pakistani political crises began when the opposition joined hands and submitted a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan's government in the National Assembly. Prime Minister Imran Khan urged Pakistani establishment not to stay neutral[22] and play its role to save his government and not let historical rival politicians with alleged corruption charges take over[23] but the establishment refused.[24]

    Since his ouster, Imran Khan has called for early general elections which recently escalated after the Khan-led PTI dissolved two of its provincial assemblies[25][26] (Punjab and KP) triggering elections in 60% of country due in 30 April 2023[27] and 28 May 2023[28] respectively. Khan's calls have received a broadly positive response from the general public, with a Gallup survey declaring Imran Khan as the most popular current political leader in Pakistan with 61% of Pakistanis having a positive opinion about him, followed by 36% for the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari respectively.[29]

    Imran Khan was arrested by the police from Islamabad High Court on May 9, 2023. Imran's arrest led to a nation wide protest by his supporters. PTI supporters had reportedly indulged into violence to stage their protest against this arrest. Social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and others were blocked in the country. [30]

    Background

    2018 Rise of Imran Khan

    PM Imran Khan, WEF 2020

    General elections were held in Pakistan on Wednesday, 25 July 2018 to elect the members of 15th National Assembly and the four Provincial Assemblies. The three major parties Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Imran Khan, the Pakistan Muslim League led by Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistan Peoples Party led by Bilawal Bhutto.

    PTI won the most seats in the National Assembly but fell short of a majority; the party subsequently formed a coalition government with several smaller parties.[31]

    Following the elections, six major parties including PML-N claimed there had been large-scale vote rigging and administrative malpractices. Imran Khan, chairman of the PTI, proceeded to form a coalition government, announcing his cabinet shortly after the elections.

    Claims of electoral malpractice in the 2018 elections are still hotly debated. Numerous neutral observers have issued statements on the credibility of the result, with a top electoral watchdog, Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), saying that the 2018 general elections in Pakistan had been "more transparent in some aspects" than the previous polls.[32][33] The EU Election Observation Mission to Pakistan maintained, however, that a "level playing field" was not afforded to all parties and that the process was not "as good as that of 2013".[34]

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)

    Main article: Pakistan Democratic Movement

    The PDM is political movement founded in September 2020, which is based on the allegations of rigging in the 2018 Pakistani general election, which Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf won. Imran Khan's government, however, maintained that the movement was motivated by a series of corruption cases against the leaders of the political parties that had previously governed Pakistan, namely the Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).[35]

    Collapse of Khan's Government

    Main article: No-confidence motion against Imran Khan

    On 8 March 2022, the opposition presented a vote of no confidence motion to the national assembly and by the end of March, Khan's coalition partners had publicly withdrawn their support. On 3 April, Pakistan entered into a constitutional crisis when the National Assembly's Deputy Speaker, Qasim Khan Suri, dismissed the motion, prompting the opposition to turn to the supreme court.[36] Suri's decision was overturned, leading to another session on 9 April.[37] Just before midnight, Speaker Asad Qaiser resigned from his position, and in the early hours of 10 April, Imran Khan was removed in the first successful vote of no confidence in the country's history. Khan's party went on to lose Punjab government.[38][39]

    PDM protests

    Main article: Pakistan Democratic Movement

    No-confidence motion against Imran Khan

    Main article: No-confidence motion against Imran Khan

    A no-confidence motion was tabled against PM Imran Khan on the 28th of March 2022. This was followed by a slow trickle of allies going from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government to the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) led opposition. First came independent members and the Jamhoori Watan Party, followed by the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and defectors from the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q). However, the final death blow to the ruling coalition was the defection of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan. The opposition also claimed it had the support from a group of PTI MNAs led by ex-secretary general of the PTI, Jahangir Tareen. The PTI alleged that this was in violation of article 63(a) of the Pakistani constitution. The voting was scheduled to take place on 3 April. However, the deputy speaker, Qasim Suri, refused to hold the vote, citing a foreign conspiracy against the government, and article 5 of the constitution. This was later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Voting finally took place on 9 April, with Imran Khan losing the vote. Shehbaz Sharif was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan two days later, on the 11th of April.

    Provincial Assembly of the Punjab crisis

    Main article: Provincial Assembly of the Punjab crisis

    After years of political pressure, the Chief Minister Usman Buzdar resigned. The resignation was accepted by the governor on the 1st of April 2022. The current speaker, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, a member of the PML(Q), was nominated by the PML(Q) and PTI for the role of chief minister, while the opposition parties, PML-N and PPP nominated Hamza Shehbaz of the PML(N). Due to the speaker being a contestant in the election, the deputy speaker, Dost Muhammad Mazari of the PTI was in charge of the proceedings. The election, originally scheduled for the 16th of April was moved ahead to the 6th of April by the deputy speaker. However, the secretary assembly refused to comply with his orders, and a no-confidence motion was moved against him by his own party.

    Constitutional crisis

    Main article: 2022 Pakistani constitutional crisis

    On the 3rd of April 2022, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri refused to hold a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister Imran Khan, citing article 5 of the Pakistani Constitution, and then proceeded to dissolve the National Assembly. He and the Prime Minister, along with other members of the ruling PTI, alleged a foreign conspiracy against them, with no evidence brought forth thus far. The Supreme Court took on the case suo moto and ruled 5-0 that the ruling was unconstitutional and the vote needed to take place on the 9th of April 2022

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly

    On April 8, opposition parties in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly filed a no-confidence motion against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. The no-confidence motion was filed by Awami National Party parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak, provincial senior vice president Khush Dil Khan, MPA Shagufta Malik and others from the united opposition in the provincial assembly secretariat. The no-confidence motion has the signatures of more than 20 members.[40][41][42]

    No-confidence motion against Azad Kashmir prime minister

    On 12 April 2022, PTI submitted a motion of no-confidence against their own Azad Kashmir prime minister.[43]

    Oath crises

    National Assembly

    When PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif was elected Prime Minister, President Arif Alvi had to take oath from him. However, the president went on leave due to illness. In his absence, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath of office to the new Prime Minister.[44]

    On April 19, 2022, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's 34-member cabinet was sworn in, but President Arif Alvi refused again.[45]

    Punjab Assembly

    An extraordinary session of the Punjab Assembly was held on 16 April 2022, in which the opposition candidate Hamza Shahbaz was elected the new Chief Minister but he has not been able to take the oath of office yet which has created a situation of uncertainty. Governor Punjab Omar Sarfaraz Cheema refuses to take oath from newly elected Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz.[46]

    Azadi March I

    Main article: 2022 Azadi March I

    The 2022 Azadi March I (Urdu: آزادی مارچ, romanized: Āzādī Mārch, lit. 'Freedom March') was a protest march initiated by the ousted former Pakistani prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party chairman Imran Khan against the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On 24 May 2022, Khan announced a long march towards Islamabad starting on 25 May 2022.[2] Khan lead the march from Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where his provincial government helped him. Senior PTI members lead the march from Lahore, the capital of Punjab.

    Azadi March II

    Main article: 2022 Azadi March II

    The 2022-23 Azadi March II (Urdu: حقیقی آزادی مارچ, romanized: Haqiqi Azadi March) is a protest march sequel of the 2022 Azadi March I led by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan from Lahore to Islamabad against the Shehbaz Sharif ministry's refusal to announce early general elections and the appointment of a new Pakistan Army Chief.[14]

    Imran ultimately announced on 25 October 2022, that the long march will begin on 28 October, from Liberty Chowk, Lahore, and will end in Islamabad before turning into a sit-in.[15][16][17]

    Imran Khan Assassination Attempt

    Main article: Attempted assassination of Imran Khan

    On November 3rd during a political rally near the town of Gujranwala, 2022 former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was engaged in an assassination attempt, but survived the shooting. The march to the Capital as it was called was an important rally for Khan’s attempt to undo his removal from office. A senior leader Asad Umar stated, “Yes, he has been shot, there are pellets lodged in his leg, his bone has been chipped, he has also been shot in his thigh.[47]

    Imran Khan Conspiracy Concerns Against USA

    During an exclusive interview with CNN’s Becky Andersen, former prime minister Imran Khan claimed that Donald Lu, assistant secretary of the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, insisted that Imran Khan should be removed from office, as the sheer presence of Imran Khan in Pakistan is making the US’s ties with India and Afghanistan difficult. Khan indicated to CNN that Lu had made serious allegations that if Khan is not removed, Pakistan would “suffer consequences”. A US State Department spokesperson insisted to CNN that these rumors from Khan are false.[48] Khan supports his claims by referencing a undisclosed diplomatic cable from the US.

    Massive protests following the vote of no confidence

    Countrywide marches broke out across the nation following the success of the vote of no confidence, many of which moved towards Islamabad. Demonstrations also sprang up amongst the Pakistani communities in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Italy and other countries[49] On 10 April 2022, tens of thousands marched in cities across Pakistan, waving large party flags and chanting slogans. This led to a creation of Haqeeqi-Azadi Movement.[50]

    Movements

    Protest in London Park in solidarity with Ex-PM Imran khan 10 April 2022
    Protest in Celebration Square in solidarity with Ex-PM Imran khan 10 April 2022

    Haqeeqi Azadi March I

    Main article: 2022 Azadi March I

    The 2022 Azadi March I (Urdu: آزادی مارچ, romanized: Āzādī Mārch, lit. 'Freedom March') was a protest march initiated by the ousted former Pakistani prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party chairman Imran Khan against the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On 24 May 2022, Khan announced a long march towards Islamabad starting on 25 May 2022. Khan lead the march from Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where his provincial government helped him. Senior PTI members lead the march from Lahore, the capital of Punjab.

    Goals

    Hundreds of potential marchers were arrested in an alleged crackdown by the new Government of Pakistan. To prevent protestors from reaching the Srinagar Highway, Red Zone (Islamabad) and entering the capital, hundreds of containers were given to the Islamabad Police and a ban was placed on gatherings. The entrance towards the D-Chowk (Islamabad) was blocked by hundreds of personnel from the Capital Territory Police not allowing protestors to come close by launching tear gas shells at the protestors which included women, children, and families.

    After dawn on 26 May, Imran Khan called off the March on Blue Area just 2.1 miles away from where the police stood firing tear gas shells. In a later interview his justification for calling off the march was to avoid bloodshed, as he alleged that his supporters were ready to fight against the police. The government maintained that Khan called off the march owing to a lack of political support.

    Punjab by-elections

    Main article: July 2022 Punjab provincial by-election

    After the floor crossing, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-seated 25 dissident PTI MPAs for defection in the light of Article 63-A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 20 May 2022. Five of these MPAs were elected on reserved seats (3 for women and two for minorities) and new PTI MPAs were notified on these seats on 7 July.[51]

    The ECP announced on 25 May 2022 that the by-elections would be held on 17 July 2022. The government held 177 seats in the assembly. This included 165 PML(N) MPAs, 7 PPP MPAs, 1 PRHP MPA, and 4 independent MPAs. Therefore, they needed to win 9 seats to gain a majority in the assembly. On the other hand, the opposition held 173 seats. This included 163 PTI MPAs and 10 PML(Q) MPAs. Therefore, they needed to win 13 seats to gain a majority in the assembly.

    By-elections were held in Punjab, Pakistan on 17 July 2022 to elect 20 members of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf won a landslide victory on 15 of those 20 seats, leading to the collapse of Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz's PML(N)-led coalition government.[52][53]

    Haqeeqi Azadi March II

    Main article: 2022 Azadi March II

    The 2022–23 Azadi March II (Urdu: حقیقی آزادی مارچ, romanized: Haqiqi Azadi March) was a protest march sequel of the 2022 Azadi March I led by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan from Lahore to Islamabad against the Shehbaz Sharif ministry's refusal to announce early general elections and the appointment of a new Pakistan Army Chief.

    Imran Khan assassination attempt

    Main article: Attempted assassination of Imran Khan
    Imran Khan addressing the nation after assassination attempt.

    On the date of 3 November 2022 former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was engaged in an assassination attempt after he received two bullet shots to his leg.[54]

    KP and Punjab assembly dissolution

    Khan-led PTI has dissolved two of it's provincial assemblies (Punjab and KP)[25][26] triggering elections in 60% of country due in 30 April 2023 and 28 May 2023 respectively.[27][28]

    Supreme Court's Verdict

    Punjab elections due on 30 April 2023 was moved to 8 October 2023 by the Election Commission of Pakistan on the basis of security and economical hurdles which was direct violation of 1973's constitution of Pakistan which directs caretaker government to conduct elections in no more than 90 days.[55] On 4 April 2023, Supreme court declared the country's poll panel's decision to delay the assembly elections in two provinces as "unconstitutional". The top court on Tuesday ordered the government to hold snap polls in the country's most populous province of Punjab on 14 May.

    Arrest of Imran Khan

    On May 9, Imran Khan was placed under arrest by police. Protests and injuries were reported at several locations across Pakistan. [56]

    See also

    References

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    56. ^ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65531648
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