Though most protests have been against the government regarding food inflation, rise in prices and other issues. The protests that were started by Imran Khan after he was removed from power in April 2022 had a distinctly anti-establishment flavour.
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After he lost the trust vote, Imran Khan launched a series of massive protests that were initially aimed at his successor prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.
But the narrative quickly took a turn when Imran, during a rally in Islamabad, started hurling allegations against the military-political nexus and claiming that a foreign hand was behind the political turmoil.
In subsequent protests and video messages, Imran Khan started naming agencies such as the ISI and the army of being involved in destroying democracy in Pakistan.
Such accusations had never been made in public before but Khan’s popularity grew ten-fold as his attacks against the army and the ‘establishment’ became sharper.
Khan’s supporters quickly became comfortable with challenging and speaking out against the military-political complex, which was unprecedented.
The situation was such that for the first time in its history, the ISI and the Pakistan army had to hold press conferences to defend themselves from Khan’s accusations.
Why these protests are different
The latest spate of protests that have been triggered following Khan’s arrest showcase this shift of anger towards the Pakistan army — an institution that had always been above public reproach.
As protests broke out across Pakistan, multiple reports came in of thousands of Khan’s supporters gathering near army cantonments and bases.
In Rawalpindi, protesters broke the gates of the army HQ and were seen ransacking some of the buildings.
In Lahore, Khan’s supporters forcibly entered the resident of a corps commander and ransacked the building. They later set it on fire.
In Quetta and Faisalabad, hundreds of protesters gathered at checkpoints and chanted slogans against the army and the establishment. Local media reports claim that the police opened fire in these areas resulting in the death of at least 5 protesters. Many policemen were also injured.
(With inputs from agencies)