Latest news with #10thofMuharram
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Imran Khan vs Asim Munir: How former cricket all-rounder is throwing bouncers at Pakistan Army Chief even from jail
Pakistan's political landscape is sharply divided between Field Marshal Asim Munir , the army chief wielding extensive influence across parliament, judiciary, and diplomacy, and Imran Khan , the former prime minister currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail , who remains the country's most powerful political figure. Despite imprisonment, Khan commands significant support from grassroots activists, the diaspora, and a robust digital network keeping his message alive. While Field Marshal Munir may currently hold the reins of power, Imran Khan continues to shape Pakistan's political future from behind bars. Imran Khan calls for nationwide protests amid rising tensions This week, Khan called for nationwide agitation following the 10th of Muharram, aiming to revive mass mobilisation at a time when Munir's institutional authority is at its peak. The call comes amid widespread public frustration over inflation, repression, and perceptions that the political system has been engineered to sideline the electorate's will. Munir's diplomatic efforts and US engagement Two weeks ago, Munir held a discreet meeting with then-US President Donald Trump at the White House, diplomatic sources confirmed. According to insiders, discussions focused on Khan's fate and Pakistan's internal stability, especially in light of pressure from the overseas Pakistani diaspora. Supreme Court ruling shifts parliamentary power balance Shortly after, the Supreme Court awarded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 's (PTI) reserved seats to the ruling coalition of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), granting it a two-thirds supermajority in parliament. Critics have described this legal ruling as effectively nullifying the popular mandate from the February 2024 general elections. A senior legal analyst described the development as 'political elimination through judicial procedure' and added, 'The system was rewritten to fit the result.' Live Events PTI's political campaign shifts abroad While Munir continues diplomatic visits to Washington, Riyadh, and Beijing as Pakistan's stabilising envoy, PTI's political activities have moved abroad. The party's campaign is now led by an extensive online volunteer network based in the UK, North America, and the Gulf. A PTI organiser in Birmingham said, 'You can erase a party from parliament, but not from memory. We've made the diaspora the movement's backbone.' The PTI sustains its message of injustice, censorship, and a stolen mandate through platforms such as YouTube, Telegram, and X, forming a digital frontline that challenges state control. Munir's international stature contrasted with domestic volatility Despite Munir's growing global stature through high-profile diplomatic engagements, experts caution that this may mask underlying instability. History shows that past military rulers of Pakistan, including Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf, enjoyed international legitimacy at their peak but were eventually undone by domestic dissent. With Khan's call for post-Muharram protests and increasing economic hardship fueling political discontent, Munir's control over the state may soon face significant challenges. Analysts warn that what appears as consolidation could unravel if public anger exceeds the system's ability to manage it. Political power concentrated between Munir and Khan The civilian government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lacks real authority, leaving the principal contest between Munir, who has unrivalled institutional control, and Khan, whose public support remains unbroken despite imprisonment.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan's power struggle narrows to two men: Imran vs Munir
Imran Khan and Asim Munir (R) ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's political battlefield has narrowed to two poles: Field Marshal Asim Munir , the army chief whose influence spans parliament, the judiciary and diplomacy, and Imran Khan , the jailed former prime minister who, despite his incarceration in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, remains the most potent political force in the country, commanding the street, the diaspora, and a digital army keeping his voice alive. This week, Khan issued a call for nationwide agitation after the 10th of Muharram, aiming to reignite mass mobilisation just as Field Marshal Munir stands at the peak of his institutional authority. The move comes amid growing public frustration over inflation, repression, and a system many believe has been engineered to exclude the electorate's will. Two weeks ago, Munir met US President Donald Trump at the White House, a discreet engagement confirmed by diplomatic sources. According to insiders, Imran Khan's fate and Pakistan's internal political stability were among the topics discussed, particularly in light of pressure from the overseas Pakistani diaspora. Soon after, the Supreme Court awarded the PTI's reserved seats to the ruling PML-N-PPP coalition, handing it a two-thirds supermajority in parliament — a legal outcome that critics say has effectively nullified the popular mandate from the Feb 2024 general elections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo 'It's political elimination through judicial procedure,' said a senior legal analyst. 'The system was rewritten to fit the result.' While Munir tours Washington, Riyadh and Beijing as Pakistan's stabilising envoy, PTI's political campaign has been pushed abroad, led by a vast online network of digital volunteers across the UK, North America and the Gulf. 'You can erase a party from parliament, but not from memory,' said a PTI organiser in Birmingham. 'We've made the diaspora the movement's backbone.' PTI's message – injustice, censorship, stolen mandate – is kept alive through platforms like YouTube, Telegram and X, forming a digital frontline that defies state control. Munir's rising global stature – reinforced by high-profile diplomatic engagements – may yet prove to be a deceptive calm. History offers a cautionary echo: Pakistan's military rulers from Ayub to Zia to Musharraf all basked in international legitimacy at their zeniths, only to be brought down by domestic discontent. With Khan's post-Muharram agitation call threatening to spill onto the streets and economic despair combining with political anger, Munir's firm grip on the state may soon face its first real stress test. What looks like consolidation could quickly unravel if the tide of public rage surpasses the system's capacity to contain it. There is no serious civilian counterweight. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif holds office but not authority. The real contest is between Munir with unmatched institutional control, and Imran, the politician with unbroken public appeal. Field Marshal Munir may rule the state. But Imran Khan – even from a prison cell – continues to shape the struggle that could decide Pakistan's political future.
Business Recorder
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Aleema says IK speaks of ‘looming 27th amendment'
ISLAMABAD, Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ex-prime minister Imran Khan foresaw a 27th constitutional amendment on Tuesday, calling it a move towards dictatorship and urging his followers to get ready for a nationwide protest drive after 10th Muharram. In a message said to be sent through his sister Aleema Khan from Adiala Jail, he said the looming 27th constitutional amendment is being introduced which would further curtail democracy. He said that restrictions on 26 members of the Punjab Assembly made it futile to operate within existing structures. Our members should set up their own assembly outside. After the 10th of Muharram, a movement must begin against this system of slavery, he said. He reiterated that he would rather remain in jail for life than live under what enslavement. 'I will only talk to those who actually hold power,' he added. However, talking to journalists Aleema Khan alleged that the judiciary was being manipulated for political ends. She said Khan had effectively been cut off from his party and supporters. 'Imran Khan has been completely isolated. Until we are granted a meeting with him, we will remain here. When we built pressure, only two of his sisters are allowed to meet him.' She said that the PTI has over 50,000 office-bearers capable of carrying out political responsibilities. 'It is the job of politicians to lead and engage in politics – giving protest calls is not our job. A person can make all the plans he wants, but the final plan is Allah's and Allah is with Imran Khan,' she opined Aleema claimed the entire country supports Imran Khan. 'Public representatives are being removed from the assemblies one by one,' she said. 'This is not just about a party anymore, it's a national issue.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
