Ongoing actions against Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaaf (PTI) party appear to be led by the army despite being officially attributed to the civilian government. Pakistan’s military has a history of intervening in politics through coups, constitutional manipulation, and intelligence-driven tactics. The current focus is on Imran Khan, with measures such as arrests, trials, and party activity restrictions.
The military in Pakistan has a track record of influencing governance, foreign policy, and political structures. Over the years, they have utilized various tools to exert control, including removing governments, manipulating party dynamics, conducting intelligence operations against rivals, and imposing legal or extra-legal pressures on media and civil society. This influence has been institutionalized through strategic appointments, promotions, and security policy control across different administrations.
Historically, Pakistan has witnessed military takeovers and interventions, such as the removal of civilian leadership in the 1950s and subsequent martial law impositions. Generals like Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, and Zia ul‑Haq have played significant roles in altering political landscapes through military rule and restrictions on democratic processes. Even in recent times, with Imran Khan’s removal and subsequent crackdown on PTI, the military’s involvement in politics remains a contentious issue.
The campaign against PTI has involved legal prosecutions, administrative bans, and security operations aimed at weakening the party’s organizational structure and discouraging mass mobilization. The use of military courts and anti-terror laws to prosecute civilians has raised concerns about due process and the militarization of law enforcement. The military’s efforts to project itself as a defender of state institutions have been reinforced by high-profile promotions and confrontations with India.
