The startling arrest of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan by the Rangers paramilitary force at the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday has not only destabilized Pakistan but also drawn the gaze of the global community.
News outlets around the world are shedding light on the possible repercussions of Khan’s arrest, illustrating the mounting tensions between Khan and the civil-military leadership, as well as the potential impact on Pakistan’s political landscape and international alliances.
Time magazine underscored the arrest as a possible trigger for further tension between Khan and Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership.
Analysts, like Michael Kugelman of the South Asia Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center, argue that Khan’s arrest marks a significant intensification in the long-standing power struggle between him and the influential forces in Pakistan. Kugelman posited that the military was likely instrumental in Khan’s arrest, potentially with support from the civilian leadership, given the strained relationship between the parties.
The New York Times presented Khan’s arrest as a component of an ongoing conflict between him and the military establishment, depicting the former prime minister as a critical challenge from the military’s viewpoint. In contrast, Reuters emphasized Khan’s popularity, describing him as “Pakistan’s most popular leader” according to opinion polls, and linked his arrest to the power dynamics between him and Pakistan’s armed forces.
CNN reported chaotic scenes as paramilitary forces forcefully entered the Islamabad High Court premises and detained Khan while he was providing his biometric data for a court appearance. The operation, which involved breaking a window to apprehend Khan, left a vivid and dramatic impression.
The Guardian characterized Imran Khan as “the most divisive man in Pakistan” and traced the deteriorating relationship between Khan and the military to fissures that began to appear in 2021. The report highlighted Khan’s resistance to perceived military control and the government’s worsening economic situation.
The Guardian further suggested that Khan’s ongoing popularity, demonstrated by the swift protests following his arrest, poses a threat to the current government, prompting calls for early general elections.
The global coverage of Imran Khan’s arrest reveals concerns over the widening chasm between Khan and the civil-military leadership, potential unrest, public outrage, and its influence on Pakistan’s bilateral relationships. As the situation continues to evolve, the international community is closely monitoring how these developments might affect Pakistan’s political trajectory and its relationships with key partners, such as China, the United States, and the International Monetary Fund.