Pakistan’s ‘King of Chaos’ Imran Khan keeps winning even behind bars
According to author and journalist Mohammed Hanif, the recent elections in Pakistan were anticipated to usher in a period of much-needed stability to address the country’s crippling inflation and deep political divisions.
However, the outcome instead produced a minority government—a fragile, hesitant coalition that appears uncertain of its mandate.
Two weeks after the elections, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto, announced their intention to form a government. However, the PPP clarified that it would not participate in the coalition.
The announcement, made solemnly by the leaders of both parties in the dead of night, resembled a forced alliance rather than a willing partnership. Suddenly, Pakistan found itself in the peculiar position of being a democracy where no one seemed eager to assume the role of prime minister.
The term “establishment,” a euphemism used by the local media to refer to Pakistan’s influential military, has long maintained that civilian politicians lack the discretion to manage general elections effectively. On this occasion, they resorted to familiar tactics from their electoral playbook, employing every method that had proven successful in the past.
Imran Khan, the main contender, was incarcerated, facing over 150 criminal and civil charges, all of which he vehemently denied. Just a week before the elections, he was convicted in three cases, including one involving accusations of hastily contracting a marriage. His party was denied its election symbol and a unified platform, compelling them to run as independent candidates.
Many candidates evaded police raids instead of campaigning in their respective constituencies. Meanwhile, Khan’s primary opponents were absolved of numerous charges and granted unrestricted freedom to campaign. On the day of the election, social media and mobile phone services were abruptly suspended, purportedly due to security concerns, but in reality, to hinder Khan supporters’ access to polling stations and their ability to identify their candidates on the ballot.
Khan’s supporters showed remarkable ingenuity, formed WhatsApp groups, improvised apps and websites overnight reached polling booths, and managed to find their candidates.
His party used AI-generated speeches to convey the message of their jailed leader. Imran Khan’s prison ID number was turned into an election slogan.
They campaigned guerrilla-style and sprang a surprise on election day.
Despite all the claims of rigging against it, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) still emerged as the single largest party in the election. The Khan wave on election day was too strong to be reined in by routine rigging.
The establishment used 20th-century tactics to tame a digital-savvy generation – and lost.
To the military’s tried and tested machinations, the voters’ response was polite and defiant: thank you, but no thank you, we are not as ignorant and illiterate as you think we are. We may not be able to take you on in the streets, you have your guns, but here’s our stamp on the ballot. Do what you will with it.
