Imran Khan blasts a bugle as the Pakistani Army prepares for a major battle

Pakistan is on the brink of another major internal crisis, as former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), prepare for a nationwide agitation while the country reels from the military humiliation inflicted by India’s Operation Sindoor.

Key Developments:

1. Imran Khan’s Nationwide Agitation Call:

   • From his prison cell, Imran Khan has sent out a strong message through his sister Aleema Khan, calling for a mass movement across Pakistan, not just Islamabad.

   • PTI Senator Ali Zafar confirmed the plans, stating the party is now gearing up for a countrywide campaign.

   • Khan reportedly said: “Even if I spend my entire life in jail, I will not surrender.”

2. The Target: Pakistan Army, Not Just the Government:

   • The agitation is primarily aimed at the military establishment, especially Field Marshal Asim Munir, more than the Shehbaz Sharif-led civilian government, which is widely seen as a puppet regime.

   • Khan blames the army for:

     • Orchestrating his removal from power in April 2022.

     • Banning PTI.

     • Orchestrating politically motivated arrests of him and his wife, Bushra Bibi.

   • PTI leaders and supporters know the real power lies in Rawalpindi, not Islamabad.

3. Judicial and Legal Context:

   • Khan has faced a series of controversial convictions:

     • 3 years in the Toshakhana case (suspended in August 2023).

     • 10 years in the cipher case (overturned in June 2024).

     • 7 years over marriage-related charges, for which he remains imprisoned.

   • Despite PTI-backed candidates winning the most seats in February 2024 elections, they were excluded from power by a rival coalition government.

4. PTI’s November 2024 Protests:

   • PTI's previous large-scale protests in Islamabad in November 2024 were forcefully suppressed.

   • Despite that setback, the party sees renewed momentum amid growing anti-army sentiment and the military’s plummeting credibility post-Operation Sindoor.

5. Operation Sindoor and Pakistan Army’s Humiliation:

   • India’s Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, saw:

     • 25-minute precision airstrikes destroying 9 terror camps.

     • Key terrorists like Yusuf Azhar and Abdul Rauf Azhar eliminated.

     • Indian air power crippled Pakistan’s airbases, including Noor Khan and Rahimyar Khan.

   • Pakistan’s declaration of "victory" and the promotion of Asim Munir to Field Marshal was viewed domestically as a desperate face-saving maneuver.

6. The Crisis for Rawalpindi:

   • The military is now cornered on two fronts:

     • Externally, by India’s assertive military strikes.

     • Internally, by Imran Khan’s looming agitation, which threatens a massive civilian uprising.

   • With economic pressure mounting, the military's dominance is more fragile than ever.

Outlook:

Pakistan is entering a potentially explosive period, with the military establishment’s authority under severe strain. Imran Khan’s upcoming agitation could either further destabilize the hybrid regime or become the catalyst for a systemic shift in Pakistan’s power dynamics. Either way, the coming weeks may mark a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s political history.