(Lahore) The call to demonstrate in Pakistan, launched by former Prime Minister Imran Khan after his release, was finally not followed up on Sunday, at the end of a week marked by clashes provoked by his arrest.
However, new protests could erupt in the coming days: Imran Khan has vowed to relaunch his campaign as he faces new court cases and an embargo on a new arrest issued by an Islamabad court expires on Monday.
Cricket star turned politician Imran Khan was detained on Tuesday during a routine appearance in a court in Islamabad in a corruption case. He was granted bail on Friday.
In a speech delivered on Saturday to his supporters from his residence in Lahore, the opposition leader had called for demonstrations in the streets and villages on Sunday from 5:30 p.m. for an hour.
PHOTO ARIF ALI, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
In a speech delivered on Saturday to his supporters from his residence in Lahore, the opposition leader had called for demonstrations in the streets and villages on Sunday from 5:30 p.m. for an hour.
“Freedom does not come easily. You have to pull it out. You have to sacrifice yourself for it, ”he urged.
But his appeal has largely gone unheeded in Lahore.
“I was ashamed that no one came out in our neighborhood so I came here on a big road to be seen,” said Aisha Asif, a 48-year-old housewife from Lahore. . “We just want the country to improve,” she added.
The former head of government (2018-2022), who is pushing for the organization of elections before October in the hope of returning to power, took advantage of his speech on Saturday to announce the resumption of his campaign from Wednesday .
Entangled in dozens of court cases, the septuagenarian has multiplied the accusations against the powerful Pakistani army since his ousting from power.
“Terrorism”
After his release, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah assured that Mr. Khan would sooner or later be arrested again. “This terrorism and collective intimidation was all planned and done by Khan,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Imran Khan’s arrest sparked violent clashes in several towns across the country between his supporters and the security forces. Several government buildings were set on fire, military symbols destroyed and roads blocked.
At least nine people died during these events, according to the police and the hospitals. Hundreds of police were injured and more than 4,000 people arrested, mainly in the provinces of Punjab (east) of which Lahore is the capital, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (northwest), according to the authorities.
On Saturday, the current prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who succeeded Mr Khan, warned that “those who have shown anti-state behavior will be arrested and tried by anti-terrorism courts”.
“Misperceptions”
For months, the popular ex-prime minister has been ranting about his successor and the military establishment that helped him rise to power in 2018 before stepping down. withdraw his trust.
On Saturday, Imran Khan told reporters that “one man, the army chief”, was behind his arrest.
Last weekend he also renewed his charges against a senior officer saying the latter had plotted to assassinate him in November at a campaign rally where he was shot in the leg.
The army, which denies Mr Khan’s accusations, warned again on Saturday against attempts to create “misperceptions” against the institution.
Direct criticism of the powerful army is rare, as it is considered a red line not to be crossed, at the risk of finding oneself in the sights of the security apparatus.
The military wields considerable political influence in Pakistan. It has staged at least three coups since independence in 1947 and held power for more than three decades.