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In 2018, Imran Khan took office as prime minister with a promise to create a new Pakistan. Today, four years later, old Pakistan has caught up with him again. From the old political clans and – of course – from the military.
No military backing
The latter was suspected of being close to Kahn. But the prime minister fell out with the powerful military apparatus – a mistake that has never been forgiven for any Pakistani prime minister. In the fall, he defied the military by opposing the army’s nominee for the election of a new intelligence chief. There was a weeks-long power struggle that Imran Khan eventually lost – as well as the trust of the generals.
Without the military on his side, Imran Khan was in poor shape. In any case, his party could only form a government through coalition partners. When a coalition party switched sides in March, it was only a matter of time before Khan had to step down.
The process gives hope for a civil change
Like all prime ministers before him, Imran Khan was unable to complete his regular term. However, he is the first to step down through a parliamentary procedure. The others were either couped, shot, or removed from office by the courts.
At least that is progress in the democratization process of the country, which was ruled by the military for half of its 75-year existence. So the fact that Khan’s departure took place according to democratic rules gives reason to hope for a civilian change, and not a return to military rule.
Opposition leader could become interim prime minister
An interim prime minister is to be elected on Monday, and if the majority in parliament does not change overnight, opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif will be in charge of affairs until the next elections. Sharif is the younger brother of three-time Prime Minister Nawas Sharif, who was also unable to complete his last term in office due to allegations of corruption and now lives in exile.
It can be assumed that an interim government under Shahbaz Sharif would drop these corruption charges. Nawas Sharif should therefore be able to stand again in the next regular elections. Just like the son of the assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal. And then Imran Khan, who has just been toppled, is likely to compete again. A fresh start with the old faces.
Still, old Pakistan seems to agree. It should be a democratic change again. The military stays in the background, but will certainly want to pull the strings there.