Pakistan state television (PTV) was taken Monday by anti-government protesters. Although the Army regained control moments later, this has been a very representative coup, one of the hardest of the political crisis continues to deepen in China. This is the latest development in the wave of violence that has erupted on Saturday in the main cities of the country after more than two weeks of protests against the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is accused of electoral fraud. Sharif’s party won in May last year, 190 of the 342 parliamentary seats in elections that most experts considered, if not perfect, is reasonably fair.
During the protests this weekend to least three people have died and 500 were injured. Police have arrested more than 100 people. In front of the protesters is Imran Khan, former cricket star turned politician and Muslim religious leader Tahirul Qadri.
During shooting on state television, the presenter announced that the protesters came armed with sticks and stones. “What is important is that we remain calm. There is no reason to panic at this time and we will keep you informed as soon as possible, “he said. Private broadcasters said that about 800 protesters were shown images of people shouting against the government and breaking equipment PTV. A few hours before the protesters had also challenged the army broke the door and entered a government building in the city. They have also tried to enter the house of Prime Minister. It is unclear if Sharif is at his residence in Islamabad or Lahore has been evacuated, as some reports say.
Imran Khan denied the participation of the members of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (which means Movement for Justice), in making state television. Muslim cleric also asked his followers to leave. However ensure that the protests will not cease. “I will not go. I will not accept this monarchy. I want a real democracy, “said Imran Khan.
After an emergency meeting with opposition parties, Sharif, who was deposed by the military in a coup in 1999, said he will not resign and will not let “the people’s mandate to be hijacked by intimidation.” Although some experts believe that this crisis is taking its toll and, if he can stay in power, weakened will. The Prime Minister has accepted that his government investigation for voter fraud, although this has failed to stop the protests. The Parliament will debate this week on possible solutions to this political crisis.
After a meeting with the Executive on Sunday, the army reaffirmed its “support for democracy”, in a statement in which says that “following with concern the political crisis and has taken violent turn.” But some analysts look askance at powerful army and think they might be behind the clashes in an attempt to destabilize the civilian government. The Army denies these allegations but has repeatedly spoken out against the policies of the executive. The trial for high treason and former president General Pervez Musharraf, who led the coup in 1999 and faces the death penalty for declaring a state of emergency in 2007, threatens to fuel tension. On the other hand, the offensive in North Waziristan against the separatist insurgency, which began in June and Sharif delayed in favor of a dialogue now stalled, was another target of criticism by the Army.
Democracy in Pakistan has been since its founding in 1947 too fragile. The Army has burst coups and has been in charge of four military governments (half of the story). Civilian governments have suffered from instability. The previous government led by the PPP was the first time an elected civilian government concluded a legislature smoothly. Also the election that put Sharif as prime minister, represented the first change of power between two democratically elected governments.
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