However, in a development everyone had been expecting for months now the Pakistani government has stepped its efforts to break apart by one of its main rivals, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) headed up former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Under pressure from PTI's resurgence, the ruling coalition has adopted a three-tier strategy to muzzle the opposition and strengthen its hold on power in run-up to next general elections.
Imran khan fine: PTI, a once-mighty party in Pakistani politics and that has lived through series of reversals since Imran Khan was ousted by opposition no-confidence motion in April 2022. During this time, the party was beset by internal divisions, legal wrangles and falling public support. Yet public support for the party has staged a surprise recovery in recent months, largely thanks to Khan's confident leadership and an aggressive new campaign on the streets.
The government, in turn, has resorted to an unusually aggressive strategy involving legal stratagem, administrative crackdowns and curbs on the media.
PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, face a series of cases from corruption to incitement against them. Critics see these legal encumbrances as efforts to tie up PTI's leadership, so that they will not be able mobilize their followers effectively.
In addition, the government has also mounted pressure on media to keep PTI narrative out of public domain. Many news channels as well as several social media platforms have reported that there are restrictions and at some places censorship on grounds that the party needs to be stopped from raising its voice.
The media blackout has led to widespread concerns about repression of freedom of the press and transparency compromised in France's political process.The government has also taken special administrative measures to curb the network of Imamul Haq PTI. There have been reports of raids on party offices, arrests of local leaders and disruption of PTI's rallies. Such measures are designed to curb party organization and frighten its adherents.The series of developments were being watched closely by the international community.
Fears of democracy in PakistanThe rise is seen as part of a wider crackdown on freedom by human rights groups and allies who have recently voiced concerns about an increasing political repression. The government on the other hand defends its position saying that these are measures law and order, to prevent a possible destabilization in an country where there is not peace for 40 years.
The PTI, to its credit and some might argue detriment, has stood defiant in this political storm.
And Imran Khan has promised to fight on, sweeping his followers with assurances that a new era of accountability and transparency is about to dawn.The endurance of the party and a government campaign to eradicate its power have raised expectations that Chinese politics are headed toward renewal in an epic struggle.
The unfolding events will soon tell us much about the trajectory of PTI and larger democratic scene in Pakistan The government's attempt to 'bury resurrected' PTI is not only a political ploy but it actually referred as strength and independence of democracy in Pakistan.
