PAKISTAN'S ILL-CHOSEN POLITICS

VAISHALI BASU SHARMA analyses populist politics, civilmilitary relations and economic distress in Pakistan

On November 4, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, sustained a bullet injury in his leg after shots were fired during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political rally in Gujranwala, Wazirabad. As dramatic images of a wounded Imran Khan being taken away on a stretcher were shown across news channels, the political crisis fermenting within Pakistan seemed to reach a violent climacteric, making the political environment murkier.

The shooting was condemned by politicians in the country and by international leaders. Khan has accused Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and senior military officers of plotting an assassination attempt on his life. During an interview with an American news channel, Khan claimed that he had obtained advance warning from “within the intelligence agencies” about the assassination attempt against him.

The attack itself certainly places more pressure on the military. Shahbaz Sharif has ordered an investigation saying that violence has no place in Pakistan's politics. In terms of street politics it will muster greater support for Imran Khan. For a country already deeply divided and recovering from devastating floods, this violent attack on one of the most popular leaders will have ramifications across Pakistan's polity and economy. PTI under Imran Khan is insisting on elections being called immediately while the PDM government insists that it will complete its term.

Imran Khan, who was elected Prime Minister in 2018, was due to end his term next year but was removed in April this year after losing a new confidence vote in parliament. Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif became the Prime minister on April 11 through a coalition called Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).