Pakistan: Police Crack Down on Opposition Protesters

Facts

• Lahore police have lodged a case against 38 leaders and workers of the main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for multiple serious offenses, including terrorism and vandalism, as well as assaulting and attempting to kidnap a police constable.¹
• This comes as violence erupted in the eastern Pakistan city on Sunday as members and supporters of the party rallied nationwide to protest against alleged election fraud, with videos showing police officers attacking the demonstrators and pushing them inside police vehicles.²
• Opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub claimed on Monday that over 100 party workers were arrested across the country, adding that they have been subjected to human rights abuses and vowing to investigate the accounts of officials through parliamentary committees.³
• PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat further announced plans to hold another self-characterized peaceful public gathering in Islamabad on the eve of Pakistan Day on March 23, vowing to appeal to the High Court if the Deputy Commissioner rejects his request.⁴
• Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI has pledged to continue protesting until the results of the Feb. 8 elections are overturned, amid allegations that the Election Commission of Pakistan manipulated the outcome to 'steal its mandate.'⁵
• Last month, the now-retired commissioner who claimed that the general elections were rigged withdrew his allegations and apologized to the Commission in a recorded statement.⁶

Sources: ¹Pakistan Today, ²Al Jazeera, ³The Express Tribune, ⁴The Print, ⁵VOA and ⁶Ary News.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Time. These elections were flawed from the beginning and, with authorities carrying out blatant lawfare against Khan and his PTI, this outcome was widely anticipated. What's surprising, however, is that the US has failed to take stronger action to ensure that its treaty ally has a free and fair vote, despite Biden arguing that promoting democracy overseas is the defining challenge of our time.
• Narrative B, as provided by DAWN. There's no valid evidence that rigging or controversy marred this polling process. However, the West has sought to outrageously meddle in Pakistan's internal affairs, voicing unfounded concerns over the vote while baselessly demanding probes into alleged irregularities. Pakistan's sovereignty, its rule of law, and the results of its election must be internationally respected.

Predictions