In yet another blow to Imran Khan, the jailed former prime minister of Pakistan has been booked under the Official Secrets Act for making the content of a confidential diplomatic cable from the country's embassy to the US public, it emerged on Friday.

Pakistan: Cypher case returns to haunt Imran Khan

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested Saturday after a judge found him guilty of corruption in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in jail.

Imran Khan arrest: Former-PM to be sent to central jail in Rawalpindi

Imran Khan, Pakistan's former prime minister, was reportedly arrested after a trial court on Saturday sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, also known as the Toshakhana corruption case, and disqualified him from politics for five years.

Toshakhana case: Police arrest ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan after court gives 3-year jail term

Pakistan: Former PM Imran Khan arrested after being found guilty in Toshakhana case

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested in Toshakhana case

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is now facing a threat by his Former Principal Secretary Azam Khan. Azam Khan has testified against the PTI Chief on the Cypher Controversy. What has unfolded in the controversy? Priyanka Sharma brings you the details.

Gravitas: Imran Khan targeted by his own former principal secretary

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has been named in six cases over the attack on Pakistan Army's General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, local media has reported. Three of these cases have been registered under the stringent Anti-Terrorism Act. The attack on the GHQ took place on May 9.

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan charged over attack on army headquarters

Pakistan’s Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday formed a nine-member bench to hear petitions against the trial of civilians before military courts under the Army Act for the May 9 violence, which erupted after former premier Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case.

Pak Chief Justice forms 9-member bench over military court trials of civilians in May 9 case

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan once again in National Crime Agency (NCA) 190 million pounds scandal, ARY News reported on Friday.

Pakistan: Accountability Bureau summons former PM Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi again

As the government carries out a crackdown on Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, supporters in Punjab province say authorities are targeting the businesses of people sympathetic to the former prime minister.

Imran Khan supporters say their businesses targeted in Pakistan

Not so long ago, Jahangir Tareen was an aide of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, now he has launched his own party with defectors from Imran Khan's party by his side. This comes as the government continues with its crackdown on the former Prime Minister and his party.

Is it the end of the road for Imran Khan?

The former PTI leader made the announcement during a press conference in Lahore with several other PTI defectors — including those who left in the aftermath of the May 9 incidents — by his side.

Jahangir Tareen launches Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party with PTI defectors by his side

Indians and Pakistanis disagree and squabble over many things, often over the Partition of the undivided subcontinent in 1947 or their bone of contention, Kashmir, where terrorism and separatism are often indistinguishable from each other. But the two nations are occasionally united by a common love for Bollywood films and music. 
 
It is appropriate to recall a popular number sung by Kishore Kumar in the 1970s to highlight Pakistan's predicament in a week that has been tumultuous even by the country's frenetic public life standards in which corrupt politicians, feudal landlords, political generals, religious extremists and a struggling middle class create a social mess that makes democracy difficult. Former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest and the eruption of widespread public anger against the all-powerful army has been visually strong enough to ask: where is this going to end? 
 
In the 1972 movie Amar Prem,&nbsp;a plaintive number's lyrics by Anand Bakshi are evocative of betrayals, unpleasant surprises and dilemmas of the kind Pakistan is facing now. 
 
Majhdhaar mein naiyyaa dole, 
to maanjhee paar lagaaye 
maanjhee jo naav duboye 
usay kaun bachaaye?

(Translation from Hindi)

When the boat dwindles in midriver currents, 
the boatman takes it to the shore, 
but when the boatman drowns a boat, 
who can save it? 
 
Right now, Pakistan is in the throes of an existential dilemma. Who is the boatman who must sail it out of the current economic and political crisis? And more important, pray, who is the boatman who sank it? Is it the army with its history of meddling in civilian affairs? Is it the ruling coalition of the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) that is reeking of familiar political vendetta? Or Imran Khan himself, having betrayed the army that once steered him quietly to the top? 
 
ALSO READ|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-accuses-iran-of-cross-border-attacks-at-trilateral-counterterrorism-conference-in-beijing-602259">&nbsp;Pakistan accuses Iran of cross-border attacks at trilateral counterterrorism conference in Beijing</a> 
 
Earlier this week, as angry crowds swirled to storm military facilities across Pakistan, including the venerable army headquarters in the cantonment city of Rawalpindi, I found myself surrounded on Twitter after what I thought was a merely factual tweet about an "attempted revolution" by supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Khan's party. 
 
People who I could sense were the party's critics and opponents were eager to tell me that I was ill-informed, by implication suggesting that the former cricket captain was not as popular as it seemed and that the street protests were stage-managed and would be short-lived. If the arson and looting we saw in videos and on TV were any indication, my critics were not too informed of what was going on either. 
 
Whispers, hints and gossip suggest the army is itself divided, but here we enter the territory of rumours blessed by the WhatsApp University. What is clear is that the measured, mellow reaction of Pakistan's army has been remarkable for its restraint in a country where the military is known to have seized power whenever there was chaos or&nbsp;even mere political opposition to its wishes. The generals are rarely known to bide their time or watch in silence. 
 
The current context is of a Pakistan that is torn between tilting towards the US, its long-time military backer, and China, its recent love interest in economic and diplomatic matters. 
 
Khan's official declaration of sovereignty and his open diplomatic flirting with President Vladimir Putin's Russia when the Ukraine war broke out might want some to say that his politics resembles his serially monogamous and allegedly polygamous romantic life. Whatever the truth, his dalliance did not augur well for his prime minister's chair. 
 
As he found himself out of office in what might be called a civilian coup by his rivals, his street hero self resurfaced. &nbsp;But he is now tangled in a chain of corruption and other police cases, under one of which the paramilitary Pakistani Rangers arrested him from the Islamabad High Court (literally abducted as per video shots). The judiciary has granted him bail, but its own role is shaky. 
 
The tussle between the judiciary and the military is now as visual and loud as a Bollywood thriller can be. PMLN leader Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is openly slamming the Chief Justice of Pakistan as Imran's man and accuses him of aiding a criminal. 
 
Here's the puzzle now: If Imran Khan is popular as he claims to be, elections can solve Pakistan's problems at least in terms of giving it some political heft. But there is a rulebook that the coalition in power may throw at Khan, having wrapped him up in more than 100 cases. 
 
Under Article 62(1)(f) of the Pakistan constitution, a person cannot be qualified as a member of the national or provincial legislatures if he is not ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ – truthful and trustworthy. Any old flimsy tale is now valid ground to keep the Khan away from elections. 
 
The subtext seems to be that the army will call the shots as the CJI is being discredited. Few can match Pakistan's army in raw, brute power evidenced by a history of coups. But, if gossip about a divided army (the belief or wishful thinking of PTI supporters) is any indication, there is the possibility of a political implosion. In the scenario of such a crisis, the country's familiar theme of martial law may play out again. Even if Imran Khan is popular, the chances of his supporters cinematically driving the generals back into their barracks is more Bollywood than Rawalpindi. 
 
That leaves us wondering as to what the Americans will do. Uncle Sam has left Afghanistan doddering, and he is not going to step into Pakistan's mess anytime soon. But Imran Khan's last rants were against American influence in his departure from power. That should endear him to the Chinese mandarins. Investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have crossed $65 billion, and if not to increase their regional influence, at least to save Chinese money, Beijing may play its own geopolitical game. In fact, early signs are already there. 
 
So the boat is still rocking midstream, and the reticent army is watching a confrontation between the executive and the judiciary. If there are serious differences within the army, which has historically been a disciplined force respecting hierarchical commands internally, we are yet to see any clinching evidence. 
 
Whoever takes the next big step, has to contend with the fact that the US cannot be wished away. &nbsp;The International Monetary Fund, in which the US commands the highest vote share, said after Imran's arrest and the bail granted to Khan by the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the country needs "significant additional financing" to tide over its balance of payments crisis. 
 
If the army helps Imran Khan's rival groups, it would be a familiar case of generals rigging a democracy. PPP was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was once close to General Ayub Khan but later formed his party to take on the generals. &nbsp;Bhutto was himself deposed in a coup by General Zia ul Haq, a man he appointed as army chief over the heads of seniors. You never know who is what in Pakistan. 
 
If the Constitution is cited to keep Khan out of an election process, it would be a case of the army confronting the judiciary again. In Pakistan's political soap opera, friends turn foes fast. That much we have seen in Imran Khan's colourful personal life as well. 
 
Back to the same Bollywood song :

Koi dushman thes lagaaye, 
to meet jiyaa bahlaaye 
manmeet jo ghaav lagaaye, 
use kaun miTaaye? 
 
(Translation from Hindi)

When an enemy hurts you, 
a friend can console you. 
but when a close friend gives you a wound, 
who can remove it?

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) 
&nbsp;

Indians and Pakistanis disagree and squabble over many things, often over the Partition of the undivided subcontinent in 1947 or their bone of contention, Kashmir, where terrorism and separatism are often indistinguishable from each other.

Indians and Pakistanis disagree and squabble over many things, often over the Partition of the undivided subcontinent in 1947 or their bone of contention, Kashmir, where terrorism and separatism are often indistinguishable from each other. But the two nations are occasionally united by a common love for Bollywood films and music. It is appropriate to recall a popular number sung by Kishore Kumar in the 1970s to highlight Pakistan's predicament in a week that has been tumultuous even by the country's frenetic public life standards in which corrupt politicians, feudal landlords, political generals, religious extremists and a struggling middle class create a social mess that makes democracy difficult. Former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest and the eruption of widespread public anger against the all-powerful army has been visually strong enough to ask: where is this going to end? In the 1972 movie Amar Prem, a plaintive number's lyrics by Anand Bakshi are evocative of betrayals, unpleasant surprises and dilemmas of the kind Pakistan is facing now. Majhdhaar mein naiyyaa dole, to maanjhee paar lagaaye maanjhee jo naav duboye usay kaun bachaaye? (Translation from Hindi) When the boat dwindles in midriver currents, the boatman takes it to the shore, but when the boatman drowns a boat, who can save it? Right now, Pakistan is in the throes of an existential dilemma. Who is the boatman who must sail it out of the current economic and political crisis? And more important, pray, who is the boatman who sank it? Is it the army with its history of meddling in civilian affairs? Is it the ruling coalition of the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) that is reeking of familiar political vendetta? Or Imran Khan himself, having betrayed the army that once steered him quietly to the top? ALSO READ| Pakistan accuses Iran of cross-border attacks at trilateral counterterrorism conference in Beijing Earlier this week, as angry crowds swirled to storm military facilities across Pakistan, including the venerable army headquarters in the cantonment city of Rawalpindi, I found myself surrounded on Twitter after what I thought was a merely factual tweet about an "attempted revolution" by supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Khan's party. People who I could sense were the party's critics and opponents were eager to tell me that I was ill-informed, by implication suggesting that the former cricket captain was not as popular as it seemed and that the street protests were stage-managed and would be short-lived. If the arson and looting we saw in videos and on TV were any indication, my critics were not too informed of what was going on either. Whispers, hints and gossip suggest the army is itself divided, but here we enter the territory of rumours blessed by the WhatsApp University. What is clear is that the measured, mellow reaction of Pakistan's army has been remarkable for its restraint in a country where the military is known to have seized power whenever there was chaos or even mere political opposition to its wishes. The generals are rarely known to bide their time or watch in silence. The current context is of a Pakistan that is torn between tilting towards the US, its long-time military backer, and China, its recent love interest in economic and diplomatic matters. Khan's official declaration of sovereignty and his open diplomatic flirting with President Vladimir Putin's Russia when the Ukraine war broke out might want some to say that his politics resembles his serially monogamous and allegedly polygamous romantic life. Whatever the truth, his dalliance did not augur well for his prime minister's chair. As he found himself out of office in what might be called a civilian coup by his rivals, his street hero self resurfaced. But he is now tangled in a chain of corruption and other police cases, under one of which the paramilitary Pakistani Rangers arrested him from the Islamabad High Court (literally abducted as per video shots). The judiciary has granted him bail, but its own role is shaky. The tussle between the judiciary and the military is now as visual and loud as a Bollywood thriller can be. PMLN leader Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is openly slamming the Chief Justice of Pakistan as Imran's man and accuses him of aiding a criminal. Here's the puzzle now: If Imran Khan is popular as he claims to be, elections can solve Pakistan's problems at least in terms of giving it some political heft. But there is a rulebook that the coalition in power may throw at Khan, having wrapped him up in more than 100 cases. Under Article 62(1)(f) of the Pakistan constitution, a person cannot be qualified as a member of the national or provincial legislatures if he is not ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ – truthful and trustworthy. Any old flimsy tale is now valid ground to keep the Khan away from elections. The subtext seems to be that the army will call the shots as the CJI is being discredited. Few can match Pakistan's army in raw, brute power evidenced by a history of coups. But, if gossip about a divided army (the belief or wishful thinking of PTI supporters) is any indication, there is the possibility of a political implosion. In the scenario of such a crisis, the country's familiar theme of martial law may play out again. Even if Imran Khan is popular, the chances of his supporters cinematically driving the generals back into their barracks is more Bollywood than Rawalpindi. That leaves us wondering as to what the Americans will do. Uncle Sam has left Afghanistan doddering, and he is not going to step into Pakistan's mess anytime soon. But Imran Khan's last rants were against American influence in his departure from power. That should endear him to the Chinese mandarins. Investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have crossed $65 billion, and if not to increase their regional influence, at least to save Chinese money, Beijing may play its own geopolitical game. In fact, early signs are already there. So the boat is still rocking midstream, and the reticent army is watching a confrontation between the executive and the judiciary. If there are serious differences within the army, which has historically been a disciplined force respecting hierarchical commands internally, we are yet to see any clinching evidence. Whoever takes the next big step, has to contend with the fact that the US cannot be wished away. The International Monetary Fund, in which the US commands the highest vote share, said after Imran's arrest and the bail granted to Khan by the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the country needs "significant additional financing" to tide over its balance of payments crisis. If the army helps Imran Khan's rival groups, it would be a familiar case of generals rigging a democracy. PPP was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was once close to General Ayub Khan but later formed his party to take on the generals. Bhutto was himself deposed in a coup by General Zia ul Haq, a man he appointed as army chief over the heads of seniors. You never know who is what in Pakistan. If the Constitution is cited to keep Khan out of an election process, it would be a case of the army confronting the judiciary again. In Pakistan's political soap opera, friends turn foes fast. That much we have seen in Imran Khan's colourful personal life as well. Back to the same Bollywood song : Koi dushman thes lagaaye, to meet jiyaa bahlaaye manmeet jo ghaav lagaaye, use kaun miTaaye? (Translation from Hindi) When an enemy hurts you, a friend can console you. but when a close friend gives you a wound, who can remove it? (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Who is the boatman, who is the passenger? Sinking Pakistan needs some answers

Since his controversial arrest and the violence that followed it, more than two dozen leaders from former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have quit the party, which blames the continuing government crackdown for the exodus.

A PTI party 'minus' Imran Khan ?

Since his ouster, Imran khan has had a public fallout with the military, despite previously enjoying close ties with the country’s most powerful institution. The former prime minister has fired unprecedented criticism at Pakistan's leaders and powerful military elite. He has accused them of plotting a November assassination attempt that saw him shot in the leg. Pakistani politicians have frequently been arrested and jailed since the country's founding in 1947. But few have so directly challenged a military that holds significant influence over domestic politics and foreign policy. The Pakistani military has staged at least three coups and ruled for more than three decades. It has ensured dominance over the political elite - during periods of martial law; or as guardians of centrally controlled civilian regimes. Over the years, the military has repressed political parties and cobbled together regime-friendly alliances.

In Imran Khan vs Pak Army, key leaders quit | Military has staged 3 coups & ruled for over 3 decades

Pakistani police kept up their siege around the home of Imran Khan as a 24-hour deadline given to the former premier to hand over suspects allegedly sheltered inside expired on Thursday.

Pakistani police besiege Imran Khan's home as deadline for him to hand over suspects expires

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has blamed Army Chief General Asim Munir for his "abduction" on May 9 and distanced himself from the violence across the country after his dramatic arrest from a court.

Imran Khan blames Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir for arrest

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan reached his residence here Saturday early morning after a prolonged standoff with authorities in Islamabad during which he was made to stay in the court premises over the provision of security to him despite being granted bail in a number of cases.

Imran Khan back at Lahore residence after securing bail in many cases

The arrest of the former Pakistan prime minister this week triggered deadly clashes across the country. The top court has ruled his arrest unlawful, but the government has vowed to re-arrest Khan should he be released, setting the stage for more unrest. The al-qadir trust case alleges that Khan, while he was the pm, received land as a bribe in exchange for political favours. Khan has waged a tempestuous campaign for snap elections. The former prime minister has fired unprecedented criticism at Pakistan's leaders and powerful military elite. He has accused them of plotting a November assassination attempt that saw him shot in the leg. Meanwhile, Imran Khan has become tangled in a slew of legal cases. The former pm secured a breather today. The Islamabad high court stayed proceedings in the Toshakhana case. The Toshakhana case relates to gifts that imran khan received from foreign states, which he allegedly bought at cheaper rates and sold at hefty prices when he was prime minister.

Imran Khan to be rearrested? Pak minister's big hint sets stage for more unrest | Details

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who spent 48 hours in the custody of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after a dramatic arrest on Tuesday, got a relief from the Supreme Court on Thursday. Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Imran Khan and termed his arrest as 'unlawful' and 'illegal'.

Pakistan Supreme Court declares arrest of former PM Imran Khan unlawful

Pakistan's Supreme Court declares Imran Khan's arrest illegal, orders his immediate release

Indians and Pakistanis disagree and squabble over many things, often over the Partition of the undivided subcontinent in 1947 or their bone of contention, Kashmir, where terrorism and separatism are often indistinguishable from each other. But the two nations are occasionally united by a common love for Bollywood films and music. 
 
It is appropriate to recall a popular number sung by Kishore Kumar in the 1970s to highlight Pakistan's predicament in a week that has been tumultuous even by the country's frenetic public life in which corrupt politicians, feudal landlords, political generals, religious extremists and a struggling middle class create a social mess that makes democracy difficult. Former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest and the eruption of widespread public anger against the all-powerful army has been visually strong enough to ask: where is this going to end? 
 
In the 1972 movie Amar Prem&nbsp;a plaintive number's lyrics by Anand Bakshi are evocative of betrayals, unpleasant surprises and dilemmas of the kind Pakistan is facing now. 
 
Majhdhaar mein naiyyaa dole, 
to maanjhee paar lagaaye 
maanjhee jo naav duboye 
usay kaun bachaaye?

When the boat dwindles in mid-river currents, 
the boatman takes it to the shore, 
but when the boatman drowns a boat, 
who can save it? 
 
Right now, Pakistan's in the throes of an existential dilemma. Who is the boatman who must sail it out of the current economic and political crisis? And more important, pray, who is the boatman who sank it? Is it the army with its history of meddling in civilian affairs? Is it the ruling coalition of the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) that is reeking of familiar political vendetta? Or Imran Khan himself, having betrayed the army that once steered him quietly to the top? 
 
Earlier this week, as angry crowds swirled to storm military facilities across Pakistan, including the venerable army headquarters in the cantonment city of Rawalpindi, I found myself surrounded on Twitter after what I thought was a merely factual tweet about an "attempted revolution" by supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Khan's party. 
 
People who I could sense were the party's critics and opponents were eager to tell me that I was ill-informed, by implication suggesting that the former cricket captain was not as popular as it seemed and that the street protests were stage-managed and would be short-lived. If the arson and looting we saw in videos and on TV were any indication, my critics were not too informed of what was going on either. 
 
Whispers, hints and gossip suggest the army is itself divided, but here we enter the territory of rumours blessed by the WhatsApp University. What is clear is that the measured, mellow reaction of Pakistan's army has been remarkable for its restraint in a country where the military is known to have seized power whenever there is chaos and even mere political opposition to its wishes. The generals are rarely known to bide their time or watch in silence. 
The current context is of a Pakistan that is torn between tilting towards the US, its long-time military backer, and China, its recent love interest in economic and diplomatic matters. 
 
Khan's official declaration of sovereignty and his open diplomatic flirting with President Vladimir Putin's Russia when the Ukraine war broke out might want some to say that his politics resembles his serially monogamous and allegedly polygamous romantic life. Whatever the truth, his dalliance did not augur well for his prime minister's chair. 
 
As he found himself out of office in what might be called a civilian coup by his rivals, his street hero self resurfaced. &nbsp;But he is now tangled in a chain of corruption and other police cases, under one of which the paramilitary Pakistani Rangers arrested him from the Islamabad High Court (literally abducted as per video shots). The judiciary has granted him bail, but its own role is shaky. 
 
The tussle between the judiciary and the military is now as visual and loud as a Bollywood thriller can be. PMLN leader Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is openly slamming the Chief Justice of Pakistan as Imran's man&nbsp;and accuses him of aiding a criminal. 
 
Here's the puzzle now: If Imran Khan is popular as he claims to be, elections can solve Pakstan's problems at least in terms of giving it some political heft. But there is a rulebook that the coalition in power may throw at Khan, having wrapped him up in more than 100 cases. 
 
Under Article 62(1)(f) of the Pakistan constitution, a person cannot be qualified as a member of the national or provincial legislatures if he is not ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ – truthful and trustworthy. Any old flimsy tale is now valid ground to keep the Khan away from elections. 
 
The subtext seems to be that the army will call the shots as the CJI is being discredited. Few can match Pakistan's army in raw, brute power evidenced by a history of coups. But, if gossip about a divided army (the belief or wishful thinking of PTI supporters) is any indication, there is the possibility of a political implosion. In the scenario of such a crisis, the country's familiar theme of martial law may play out again. Even if Imran Khan is popular, the chances of his supporters cinematically driving the generals back into their barracks is more Bollywood than Rawalpindi. 
 
That leaves us wondering as to what the Americans will do. Uncle Sam has left Afghanistan doddering, and he is not going to step into Pakistan's mess anytime soon. But Imran Khan's last rants were against American influence in his departure from power. That should endear him to the Chinese mandarins. Investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have crossed $65 billion, and if not to increase their regional influence, at least to save Chinese money, Beijing may play its own geopolitical game. In fact, early signs are already there. 
 
So the boat is still rocking midstream, and the reticent army is watching a confrontation between the executive and the judiciary. If there are serious differences within the army, which has historically been a disciplined force respecting hierarchical commands internally, we are yet to see any clinching evidence. 
 
Whoever takes the next big step, has to contend with the fact that the US cannot be wished away. &nbsp;The International Monetary Fund, in which the US commands the highest vote share, said after Imran's arrest and the bail granted to Khan by the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the country needs "significant additional financing" to tide over its balance of payments crisis. 
 
If the army helps Imran Khan's rival groups, it would be a familiar case of generals rigging a democracy. PPP was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was once close to General Ayub Khan but later formed his party to take on the generals. &nbsp;Bhutto was himself deposed in a coup by General Zia ul Haq, a man he appointed as army chief over the heads of seniors. You never know who is what in Pakistan. 
 
If the Constitution is cited to keep Khan out of an election process, it would be a case of the army confronting the judiciary again. In Pakistan's political soap opera, friends turn foes fast. That much we have seen in Imran Khan's colourful personal life as well. 
 
Back to the same Bollywood song : 
Koi dushman thes lagaaye, 
to meet jiyaa bahlaaye 
manmeet jo ghaav lagaaye, 
use kaun miTaaye?

When an enemy hurts you, 
a friend can console you. 
but when a close friend gives you a wound, 
who can remove it?

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Indians and Pakistanis disagree and squabble over many things, often over the Partition of the undivided subcontinent in 1947 or their bone of contention, Kashmir, where terrorism and separatism are often indistinguishable from each other. But the two nations are occasionally united by a common love for Bollywood films and music. It is appropriate to recall a popular number sung by Kishore Kumar in the 1970s to highlight Pakistan's predicament in a week that has been tumultuous even by the country's frenetic public life in which corrupt politicians, feudal landlords, political generals, religious extremists and a struggling middle class create a social mess that makes democracy difficult. Former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest and the eruption of widespread public anger against the all-powerful army has been visually strong enough to ask: where is this going to end? In the 1972 movie Amar Prem a plaintive number's lyrics by Anand Bakshi are evocative of betrayals, unpleasant surprises and dilemmas of the kind Pakistan is facing now. Majhdhaar mein naiyyaa dole, to maanjhee paar lagaaye maanjhee jo naav duboye usay kaun bachaaye? When the boat dwindles in mid-river currents, the boatman takes it to the shore, but when the boatman drowns a boat, who can save it? Right now, Pakistan's in the throes of an existential dilemma. Who is the boatman who must sail it out of the current economic and political crisis? And more important, pray, who is the boatman who sank it? Is it the army with its history of meddling in civilian affairs? Is it the ruling coalition of the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) that is reeking of familiar political vendetta? Or Imran Khan himself, having betrayed the army that once steered him quietly to the top? Earlier this week, as angry crowds swirled to storm military facilities across Pakistan, including the venerable army headquarters in the cantonment city of Rawalpindi, I found myself surrounded on Twitter after what I thought was a merely factual tweet about an "attempted revolution" by supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Khan's party. People who I could sense were the party's critics and opponents were eager to tell me that I was ill-informed, by implication suggesting that the former cricket captain was not as popular as it seemed and that the street protests were stage-managed and would be short-lived. If the arson and looting we saw in videos and on TV were any indication, my critics were not too informed of what was going on either. Whispers, hints and gossip suggest the army is itself divided, but here we enter the territory of rumours blessed by the WhatsApp University. What is clear is that the measured, mellow reaction of Pakistan's army has been remarkable for its restraint in a country where the military is known to have seized power whenever there is chaos and even mere political opposition to its wishes. The generals are rarely known to bide their time or watch in silence. The current context is of a Pakistan that is torn between tilting towards the US, its long-time military backer, and China, its recent love interest in economic and diplomatic matters. Khan's official declaration of sovereignty and his open diplomatic flirting with President Vladimir Putin's Russia when the Ukraine war broke out might want some to say that his politics resembles his serially monogamous and allegedly polygamous romantic life. Whatever the truth, his dalliance did not augur well for his prime minister's chair. As he found himself out of office in what might be called a civilian coup by his rivals, his street hero self resurfaced. But he is now tangled in a chain of corruption and other police cases, under one of which the paramilitary Pakistani Rangers arrested him from the Islamabad High Court (literally abducted as per video shots). The judiciary has granted him bail, but its own role is shaky. The tussle between the judiciary and the military is now as visual and loud as a Bollywood thriller can be. PMLN leader Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is openly slamming the Chief Justice of Pakistan as Imran's man and accuses him of aiding a criminal. Here's the puzzle now: If Imran Khan is popular as he claims to be, elections can solve Pakstan's problems at least in terms of giving it some political heft. But there is a rulebook that the coalition in power may throw at Khan, having wrapped him up in more than 100 cases. Under Article 62(1)(f) of the Pakistan constitution, a person cannot be qualified as a member of the national or provincial legislatures if he is not ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ – truthful and trustworthy. Any old flimsy tale is now valid ground to keep the Khan away from elections. The subtext seems to be that the army will call the shots as the CJI is being discredited. Few can match Pakistan's army in raw, brute power evidenced by a history of coups. But, if gossip about a divided army (the belief or wishful thinking of PTI supporters) is any indication, there is the possibility of a political implosion. In the scenario of such a crisis, the country's familiar theme of martial law may play out again. Even if Imran Khan is popular, the chances of his supporters cinematically driving the generals back into their barracks is more Bollywood than Rawalpindi. That leaves us wondering as to what the Americans will do. Uncle Sam has left Afghanistan doddering, and he is not going to step into Pakistan's mess anytime soon. But Imran Khan's last rants were against American influence in his departure from power. That should endear him to the Chinese mandarins. Investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have crossed $65 billion, and if not to increase their regional influence, at least to save Chinese money, Beijing may play its own geopolitical game. In fact, early signs are already there. So the boat is still rocking midstream, and the reticent army is watching a confrontation between the executive and the judiciary. If there are serious differences within the army, which has historically been a disciplined force respecting hierarchical commands internally, we are yet to see any clinching evidence. Whoever takes the next big step, has to contend with the fact that the US cannot be wished away. The International Monetary Fund, in which the US commands the highest vote share, said after Imran's arrest and the bail granted to Khan by the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the country needs "significant additional financing" to tide over its balance of payments crisis. If the army helps Imran Khan's rival groups, it would be a familiar case of generals rigging a democracy. PPP was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was once close to General Ayub Khan but later formed his party to take on the generals. Bhutto was himself deposed in a coup by General Zia ul Haq, a man he appointed as army chief over the heads of seniors. You never know who is what in Pakistan. If the Constitution is cited to keep Khan out of an election process, it would be a case of the army confronting the judiciary again. In Pakistan's political soap opera, friends turn foes fast. That much we have seen in Imran Khan's colourful personal life as well. Back to the same Bollywood song : Koi dushman thes lagaaye, to meet jiyaa bahlaaye manmeet jo ghaav lagaaye, use kaun miTaaye? When an enemy hurts you, a friend can console you. but when a close friend gives you a wound, who can remove it? (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Who is the boatman, who is the passenger? Sinking Pakistan needs some answer

Police have fired water cannon and tear gas to quell protests that erupted in several cities across Pakistan hours after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in connection with a corruption case.

Pakistan: Protests erupt in Pakistan cities after Imran Khan arrest

Imran Khan Arrest live updates: Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan was on Tuesday arrested by paramilitary Rangers from outside the Islamabad High Court. After his arrest, PTI workers protested nationwide, including Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar.

Imran Khan Arrest: PTI calls for 'nationwide strike' against former Pakistan PM's arrest

Jemima Goldsmith, first wife of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said her apartment in London was subject to a break-in attempt. The incident occurred in the middle of the night as the perpetrators remain on the run. Goldsmith took to Twitter to share images of the men who had reportedly stormed into her place and asked the netizens for identification. "If you can identify them, then please let me know," she tweeted.

UK: Imran Khan's ex wife Jemima says unidentified men tried to enter her London home

A Pakistani court on Monday granted interim bail to Imran Khan in seven different cases registered against him following clashes at the federal judicial complex here earlier this month when the former prime minister arrived from Lahore to appear in a corruption case hearing.

Pakistan court grants interim bail to Imran Khan in seven cases

A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday, as per local media reports. The warrant was issued by the Civil Judge District Sessions Court in connection with a case about threatening Khatoon Judge Zeba Chaudhry.

Non-bailable arrest warrant maintained against former Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Imran Khan accused the Pakistan government of planning his arrest, calling it part of a “London plan” to finish all cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. In his latest video message, ex-Pakistan PM Khan said: “This is part of the London plan and an agreement has been signed there to put Imran in jail, make the PTI fall and finish all cases against Nawaz Sharif.”

'London plan': Imran Khan accuses Sharif of plotting his arrest

Pakistan’s police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse ousted prime minister Imran Khan’s supporters who gathered outside his residence here, defying a government ban on rallies.

Pakistan: 1 killed as police use water cannon, tear gas on Imran Khan's supporters in Lahore

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan along with other party leaders were booked in a case on Thursday following yesterday's clashes at the former ruling party's rally, which claimed the life of one PTI worker.

Imran, others charged with terrorism after clashes at PTI rally

In a study titled Public Pulse Report released by Gallup Pakistan on Monday (March 6), 61 per cent of Pakistanis have a "positive impression" of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, while just 36 per cent do so of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

Imran Khan 'most popular leader' in Pakistan: survey

imrankhan

Imrankhan, News on Imrankhan, stories on Imrankhan, articles on Imrankhan, Imrankhan stories at Wion, Imrankhan news, Imrankhan latest news