The ‘Know Your Region’ series is designed to support unit and individual professional military education on the Indo-Pacific region. It’s important for all serving members of our military to have a foundational knowledge of the countries and issues in the Indo-Pacific.

On this page:

  • Pakistan’s Political Crisis
  • Rise of Imran Khan
  • Political Crisis and Legal Troubles
  • The Military and Judiciary

Pakistan’s Political Crisis

The 21st century began with Pakistan under military rule, with General Pervez Musharraf seizing power in a 1999 coup, overthrowing the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Musharraf ruled as Pakistan’s president until 2008. His rule saw significant political unrest, including mass protests and opposition from civil society, particularly after a controversial decision to suspend the judiciary in 2007. His actions led to the lawyers' movement, a national uprising in defence of judicial independence. It was also in December 2007 that Benazir Bhutto was assassinated during her election campaign. Musharraf’s eventual resignation in 2008 opened the door for a return to democratic rule, with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led by Asif Ali Zardari (Bhutto’s husband) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led by Nawaz Sharif emerging as the dominant political forces.

The next decade saw the two parties alternating in power; however, political instability persisted. Nawaz Sharif’s third term as prime minister ended abruptly in 2017 when the supreme court disqualified him over corruption charges related to the Panama Papers scandal. His disqualification further eroded the public’s trust in the government, setting the stage for Imran Khan to emerge as a political alternative with promises to dismantle Pakistan’s entrenched political elitism.

Rise of Imran Khan

Imran Khan, a former cricket star and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, had been involved in Pakistani politics since the 1990s but struggled to gain mainstream popularity for much of his political career. By mid-2010, Khan’s anti-corruption message began to resonate with a large portion of Pakistan’s population, particularly the urban middle class and young people. He built a reputation as a clean politician, free from the corruption scandals that plagued past leaders and political parties like the PPP and PML-N.

In the 2018 general elections, Khan’s PTI emerged as the largest party, and he was sworn in as prime minister with the promise of building a "Naya Pakistan" (New Pakistan), focusing on anti-corruption, economic reforms, and social justice. Once sworn in, Khan’s government faced numerous challenges, including a struggling economy, rising inflation, the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and rising tensions with India. While Khan was initially supported by Pakistan’s military establishment, cracks in this relationship began to emerge with Khan publicly accusing the military of conspiring against him.

Imran Khan’s Ouster

In April 2022, Imran Khan's government was dramatically ousted through a vote of no-confidence in Parliament. This was the first time in Pakistan's history that a sitting Prime Minister was removed from office in such a way. Khan’s downfall was precipitated by a combination of political opposition from the PML-N, PPP, and other opposition parties, as well as growing discontent amongst the population over his handling of the economy and foreign policy. His opponents accused him of economic mismanagement, citing rising inflation and worsening living standards.

Khan, however, claimed that his ouster was part of a foreign conspiracy, blaming the U.S. for orchestrating his removal because of his independent foreign policy stance, particularly regarding Pakistan’s relationship with China and Russia. This narrative struck a chord with Khan’s supporters, who rallied behind him in large numbers, accusing the traditional political parties of selling out the country to foreign interests. His removal from office set off a wave of protests across the country, with Khan calling for early elections and labelling the incoming government as illegitimate.

Political Crisis and Legal Troubles

Since being removed as prime minister, Khan has been at the centre of a deepening political crisis in Pakistan. His party, PTI, has staged massive rallies across the country, where his supporters have engaged in direct confrontations with the police and security forces.

In August 2023, a major blow came when Khan was sentenced to three years in prison on charges linked to the Toshakhana case, which involved the illegal sale of state gifts. He was also disqualified for holding public office for five years. His arrest led to widespread unrest, with supporters taking to the streets to demand his release. While Khan’s imprisonment was later suspended, he remained in jail facing other more serious charges.

In January 2024, a Pakistani court sentenced Khan and his wife to 14 years in prison for corruption. This came a day after another special court convicted him for leaking state secrets and sentenced him and his foreign minister to 10-years in prison. While the conviction for selling state secrets was later overturned, the corruption sentence remains.

The Role of the Military and Judiciary

Throughout this period of turmoil, Pakistan’s military and judiciary have played decisive roles, as they have in many of the country’s political crises. The military, which initially supported Khan’s rise to power, withdrew its backing shortly before his political downfall. Tensions grew between Khan’s government and the military leadership over several key issues, including the economy, Khan’s stance on foreign policy, his criticism of the military’s interference in politics, and his attempt to replace key military leaders.

The judiciary, meanwhile, has been both a mediator and a driver of political instability. The courts have been instrumental in removing several prime ministers, with Khan being the latest example. While the judiciary is often seen as an independent body, its involvement in political matters has sometimes been viewed as controversial, with accusations of judicial overreach or partisanship.

Pakistan’s most recent political crisis has only deepened the country’s political divisions. Khan’s populist appeal continues to resonate with large sections of the population, particularly young people, while others have welcomed a return of the political establishment that has dominated Pakistan for the past fifty years.

For more information on Pakistan’s recent political crisis, see the resources below:

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