2022–2023 Pakistan political unrest

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 [10] and play its role to save his government and not let historical rival politicians with alleged corruption charges take over[11] but the establishment refused.[12] Since his oust Imran Khan has called for early general elections which recently escalated after Khan-led PTI dissolved two of its provincial assemblies[13][14] (Punjab and KP) triggering elections in 60% of country due in April 30, 2023[15] and May 28, 2023[16] respectively. Gallup survey has declared Imran Khan as the present most popular leader of Pakistan with 61% of Pakistanis having positive opinion about him followed by 36% about PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.[17]

2022-2023 Pakistan political unrest
Part of 2022 Pakistani political crises
Date10 April 2022 (2022-04-10)–Present
Location
 Pakistan Countrywide
Caused byNo confidence motion against Imran Khan[1]
GoalsCivilian Supremacy
Methods
StatusOngoing
Parties to the civil conflict
Lead figures
Casualties and losses

2022 Azadi March I 1st March - 5 PTI workers dead[5]

2022 Azadi March II 2nd March - Female Journalist dead[6]

Zill-e-Shah (Mentally disabled PTI worker)[7]
18 security officials injured[8] [9]

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.[18]

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.

A top electoral watchdog, Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), also said that the 2018 general elections in Pakistan had been "more transparent in some aspects" than the previous polls.[19][20]

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 however, Imran Khan's government 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).[21]

Collapse of Khan's Government
Main article: No-confidence motion against Imran Khan

On March 8, 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 April 3, 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.[22] Suri's decision was overturned, leading to another session on April 9.[23] Just before midnight, Speaker Asad Qaiser resigned from his position, and in the early hours of April 10, 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.[24][25]

Massive protests, day after vote of no confidence

Pakistan Countrywide followed by marches to Islamabad, also Demonstrations by Pakistani communities in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Italy and many other countries [26] On April 10 2022, tens of thousands marched in cities across Pakistan, waving large party flags and shouting slogans. This led to a creation of Haqeeqi-Azadi Movement.[27]

Movements

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 26th May, Imran Khan called off the March on Blue Area just 2.10 miles away from where the Police stood firing tear gas shells. In a later interview he said that the reason he called off the March was to avoid bloodshed since the people were ready to fight against the police.

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.[28]

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.[29][30]

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 November 3rd, 2022 former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was engaged in an assassination attempt after he received two bullet shots to his leg.[31]

KP and Punjab assembly dissolution

Khan-led PTI has dissolved two of it's provincial assemblies (Punjab and KP) [13][14] triggering elections in 60% of country due in April 30, 2023 and May 28, 2023 respectively.[15][16]

See also

References
  1. Chaudhry, Dawn com | Fahad (April 9, 2022). "Imran Khan loses no-trust vote, prime ministerial term comes to unceremonious end". DAWN.COM.
  2. "'Freedom struggle': Thousands rally across Pakistan to protest ex-PM Khan's ouster". Arab News PK. April 11, 2022.
  3. Hussain, Abid. "Ex-Pakistan PM vows to 'keep up fight' as 'long march' resumes". www.aljazeera.com.
  4. Hussain, Abid. "Imran Khan's party launches 'fill the jails' protest in Pakistan". www.aljazeera.com.
  5. Five ‘PTI workers’ dead, 18 security officials injured in Azadi March clashes
  6. PTI long march: Day 3 activities called off after reporter’s death in Sadhoke
  7. PTI claims worker killed in police crackdown
  8. "Five 'PTI workers dead, 18 security officials injured in Azadi March clashes". Daily Pakistan Global. 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  9. Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2023-03-15). "Zille Shah death: five remanded in police custody". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  10. Asad, Haleem (2022-03-12). "Profanity-laden outburst by PM Imran adds to quagmire". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  11. "Establishment said 'Nawaz, Zardari are thieves': Imran". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  12. "Army has nothing to do with politics: ISPR". The Express Tribune. 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  13. Farooq, Adnan Sheikh | Umar (2023-01-14). "Punjab Assembly stands dissolved as governor decides 'to not become part of process". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  14. Hayat, Arif (2023-01-18). "KP Assembly dissolved as governor approves CM Mahmood's summary". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  15. Hussain, Abid. "Pakistan's president says Punjab polls to be held on April 30". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  16. "KP governor announces May 28 as date for polls". Daily Times. 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  17. Dawn.com (2023-03-07). "Gallup survey finds Imran Khan most popular leader". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  18. "Pakistan Election 2018 results: Party positions and list of winning candidates". Dunya News. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  19. "Viewpoint: Pakistan's dirtiest election in years". BBC News. 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  20. Hashim, Asad. "Seven things Pakistan's election results reveal". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  21. Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2020-09-21). "Opposition parties form alliance to oust govt". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  22. PTI (2022-04-16). "Pak National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri Resigns Before No-Trust Motion Against Him". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  23. Sigamony, Terence J. (2022-07-14). "Detailed judgment issued: Suri's ruling infringed Opposition's rights: SC". Brecorder. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  24. "Pakistan PM Imran Khan gone after losing no-confidence vote". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  25. "Pakistan PM Imran Khan loses no-confidence vote – DW – 04/09/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  26. "Overseas Pakistanis protest against "regime change"". Global Village Space. Desk News. 2022-04-16. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  27. "Protests in Pakistan over Khan's removal, Sharif set to be new PM". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  28. Chaudhry, Fahad (2022-05-20). "ECP de-seats 25 dissident PTI MPAs for defection". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  29. "PTI wins 15 seats, PML-N manages four seats in 20 seats of PA by-elections". www.radio.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  30. "Elahi wins, but Hamza gets the prize". The Express Tribune. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  31. Baloch, Shah Meer (2022-11-03). "Imran Khan wounded in 'assassination attempt' in Pakistan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
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