Pakistan Torn Between Army and Imran Khan

The country has never faced such a challenge to its army, which has ruled the country since its independence in 1947. Naeem Khalid Lodhi, a general who has held important positions within the army and government, states: “I witnessed the fall of Dhaka and of course there was a lot of opposition afterwards, but never on this scale”.

A Dangerous Power Struggle

Pakistan is also facing a devastating economic crisis, and the confrontation between the army and its most prominent political leader could plunge the nation of 220 million people into chaos. Shuja Nawaz, a distinguished fellow at the South Asia Center of the Atlantic Council and author of “The Battle for Pakistan,” says: “(The army) is trying to impose its brute force by using the draconian Army Law against civil society and thus risks dismantling Pakistan’s fragile constitutional system”.

Imran Khan, 70, is a charismatic figure and a former cricket player who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup. He also studied at Oxford and frequented London high society in the 1970s. Despite numerous accusations against him, ranging from corruption to incitement to terrorism, his popularity remains high, well above that of his opponents, according to local polls.

Read also: Mass Arrests in Pakistan Following Detention of Former Prime Minister Imran Khan

Essential Negotiations

Analysts believe that talks between Khan, the army, and the civilian government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are necessary to defuse the situation, but there has been no indication of a negotiated agreement. Khan has dismissed the Sharif government as insignificant.

Zulfiqar Bukhari, one of the few close advisers to Khan who has not been arrested, says that the PTI has tried to initiate discussions with the army but has received no response. “Unfortunately, no one wants to listen,” he said.

Some analysts believe that Khan will have to appease the generals in one way or another to survive. Others think the army will not give in. “Ultimate power in Pakistan goes through the barrel of a gun,” says Aqil Shah, a scholar and author of the book “The Army and Democracy in Pakistan.” “The army is unlikely to offer Khan an exit anytime soon.”