‘Last card’? Pakistan’s ex-PM Imran Khan threatens civil disobedience movement

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently jailed and facing multiple legal cases, has threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement starting December 14 if his demands for releasing under-trial political prisoners and establishing a judicial commission for transparent investigations into incidents on May 9 and November 26 are not met.

“If these demands are not met, a civil disobedience movement will commence on December 14. The government will bear responsibility for the consequences,” read a statement from Khan’s official X account on Thursday night.

Khan further declared, “As part of this movement, we will appeal to overseas Pakistanis to limit remittances and initiate a boycott campaign. In the second phase, the movement will escalate further!”

This could be the 'last card' Khan mentioned yesterday, which he would use as a last resort at the right time.

The statement accused the government of establishing a "dictatorship" in Pakistan. “Unarmed political workers have been targeted in acts of state terrorism, resulting in the martyrdom of peaceful protesters. Hundreds of our workers are missing. The Supreme Court must now take notice and fulfill its constitutional role,” Khan said.

Thousands of protesters had surged into Islamabad last week, answering Khan's call to protest his sidelining from February elections he claims were rigged to prevent his comeback and demand the release of their jailed leader.

The government deployed hundreds of security forces to the capital, where they faced off with demonstrators attempting to occupy a public square, D-Chowk, near the parliament and the prime minister's residence.

Security force personnel fire tear gas shells to disperse the supporters of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), during a protest to demand the release of Khan, in Islamabad, Pakistan, November 26, 2024. Reuters

The PTI alleged that at least 12 supporters were killed in Islamabad due to firing by law enforcement agencies during the party’s ‘final call’ protest. The government has consistently denied the claims, stating that security personnel were deployed “without live ammunition.”

The ousted premier has been in jail since August last year in different cases.

Khan, in today’s message, criticized the judiciary for its inaction on alleged human rights violations, stating, “We approached the Supreme Court, Lahore High Court, and Islamabad High Court regarding severe human rights violations, but no action was taken, pushing the country to this dire situation.”

Khan announced a grand gathering on December 13 in Peshawar to honor those who lost their lives in political violence. “Opposition political parties will also be invited to attend,” he added.

To pursue his demands, Khan said a five-member committee has been formed, including Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Salman Akram Raja, and Asad Qaiser.

“The committee will engage with stakeholders to secure the release of political prisoners and establish a judicial commission for the incidents on May 9 and November 26,” he explained.

GIF from a video showing shelling as PTI marchers progress towards Islamabad.Nukta

The statement comes just hours after Khan was indicted in the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case. The case stems from violent protests on May 9, 2023, following Khan’s brief arrest in a corruption case. PTI supporters were accused of attacking government and military installations in the aftermath of the arrest.

The military has denied Khan’s allegations of conspiring with his opponents to oust him during a parliamentary vote in April 2022.

During a hearing on Thursday at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) indicted Khan and 100 others in connection with the May 9 protests. The charges include sedition, terrorism, arson, and criminal conspiracy.