Latest news with #GallupPakistan
DW
27-05-2025
- Politics
- DW
Pakistan: What's next for ex-PM Imran Khan? – DW – 05/27/2025
The recent clashes with India have boosted the image of the military in Pakistan, apparently strengthening Imran Khan's rivals and making his battle to leave jail even more difficult. Imran Khan, former star athlete and popular conservative politician, is still behind bars in Pakistan due to what many of his supporters believe to be politically motivated charges. He was sentenced to 14-year prison term this January, which led him to quit reconciliation talks that he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were conducting with the government at the time. Khan was removed from office in a parliamentary vote of confidence in April 2022, and subsequently arrested in August 2023. Authorities are pursuing numerous cases against him, including allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and inciting violence against the state. PTI claims all the cases against Khan are politically motivated. Khan himself has accused military leaders and a "foreign conspiracy" of pushing him out of office. He has embarked on an unprecedented campaign since his ouster, openly criticizing Pakistan's powerful generals — although they deny interfering in politics. Khan overshadowed by rivals? Imran Khan supporters force their way into Islamabad To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The 72-year-old politician still hopes to leave jail and eventually return to power. Despite being locked up, Khan has millions of supporters across Pakistan and can still rely on his personal charisma to incite them to action. But the recent clashes with India over Kashmir seem to have tipped the scales. According to public perception, Pakistan's military mounted a competent response to India's missile and drone attacks — and a survey by Gallup Pakistan found that 93% of respondents had a more favorable view of the military after the conflict. The brief confrontation also prompted the government of Shehbaz Sharif to promote General Asim Munir, the chief of Pakistan's army and Khan's alleged rival. Munir was named field marshal "in recognition of the strategic brilliance and courageous leadership that ensured national security and decisively defeated the enemy." PTI holds out hope for Khan With the military enjoying a boost in popularity, Khan's hopes to regain his freedom seem to be growing ever more remote. "Khan's short-term future is bleak. The military leadership is not incentivized or compelled to offer him a deal that paves the way for him to return to power," Najam Sethi, a veteran analyst, told DW. In turn, voices from within Khan's PTI party say that he may yet be released from prison — either by getting acquitted in the courts or via potential negotiations and backdoor discussions with the military leaders. "Imran Khan's future, beyond any iota of doubt, is bright and linked with the future of Pakistan and its 240 million people who time and again have reposed their unwavering trust and confidence in his leadership as well as policies to steer Pakistan out of multi-pronged crisis," senior PTI official Sheikh Waqas Akram told DW. Khan denies talks with government, military An online post on Khan's X account last week denied Khan was approached for any negotiations. Khan dismissed the reports of talks as "entirely false." Kashmiris struggle to make their voices heard To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video According to political commentator Asma Shirazi, Khan's future mostly hinges on his own behavior. "Khan currently is not in a position of strength to negotiate his release as he was months ago, and there is very unlikely that he will come out of the jail due to several other pending cases against him," said Shirazi. Politicians to step in and negotiate Khan's release Pakistan's military is seen as having an oversized political influence and has claimed direct control of the country multiple times since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. But Akram, who serves as the secretary of information in Khan's PTI party, points out that Pakistan's armed forces are non-partisan and apolitical under the constitution. "Linking popularity of the military after recent conflict with India to Chairman Imran Khan's release from illegal incarceration, to our view lacks any correlation," according to Akram. This sentiment is echoed by Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry. "Military leadership has made it clear that negotiations will take place with politicians and within the parliamentary forum," he told DW. PTI faces leadership crisis But Khan's push to return to power has to account for more than just the military and the current government of PM Sharif. With the former prime minister in jail, cracks within the PTI have grown increasingly visible, with factions within the party pursuing conflicting agendas. Pakistan's Imran Khan (l) has been battling around 200 separate legal cases, according to his supporters Image: K.M. Chaudary/AP Photo/picture alliance "Khan's party is riven by internal disputes; his supporters are fearful of crackdown by the establishment, hence unable to launch and sustain meaningful street protests," said analyst Sethi. Despite persistent rumors that the PTI is looking for backdoor negotiations with both the military and the government, PTI spokesperson Akrem said there are "no negotiations going on... for now" with the Sharif government, decrying it as a "non-elected, non-representative and fraudulent regime" in reference to the February 2024 election, which is disputed by the PTI. Edited by: Darko Janjevic
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First Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Nearly 50% Pakistanis favour trade boost with India to normalise ties: Post-Sindoor survey
The Gallup Pakistan survey shows that most of the Pakistanis believe trade could be used to defuse tensions between the two neighbours read more Nearly half of Pakistanis support boosting trade with India to normalise relations after the ceasefire, a survey, reported by The News, has found. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours escalated earlier this month following a terror attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 in which 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, were massacred. India, in response, struck terror hideouts in Pakistan. When the Pakistan military tried to attack Indian airbases, the Indian forces launched precision strikes at several Pakistani airbases and dealt significant damage, leading Islamabad to plead for a ceasefire on May 10. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Trade key for defusing tensions' The Gallup Pakistan survey showed that most of the Pakistanis believed trade could be used to defuse tensions between the two neighbours. However, 35 per cent of Pakistanis are against this idea and believe that all unresolved issues, including Kashmir, should be addressed first. The survey included several hundred participants from across the country and was conducted between May 12 and 18 this month. When asked about steps to normalise relations with India, 48 per cent of Pakistanis favoured increasing cooperation in sports, while 35 per cent were against it. Additionally, 44 per cent supported more cooperation in education, with 36 per cent rejecting this idea. 40 per cent voted for enhancing cultural relations, but 35 per cent opposed this proposal. In response to the question, 'If you were in 1947, would you have supported separation from India,' 86 per cent said they would have voted for separation, 3 per cent would have been against it, 7 per cent were unsure, and 4 per cent did not provide an opinion. Pakistan's ailing economy Pakistan's economy remains on edge and is surviving on bailout programmes backed by several international organisations. Pakistan's GDP growth for FY 2024-25 fell short of the government's 3.6 per cent target, achieving only 2.68 per cent, as reported by ARY News citing sources from the National Accounts Committee. The findings were revealed during a committee meeting chaired by the Planning Secretary, according to an ANI report via ARY News. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD People in Pakistan view India as a great potential trading partner, the survey shows. However, New Delhi is unlikely to extend any favour to Islamabad owing to Islamabad's continued support for terrorism and failure to act against militants operating on its soil.
Business Recorder
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Support for army chief surges
ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Asim Munir is the most powerful man in the country, but his popular support has surged after the worst conflict in decades with arch-rival India, shattering criticism of interference in politics and harshly cracking down on opponents. A grateful government has given him a rare promotion to Field Marshal 'in recognition of the strategic brilliance and courageous leadership that ensured national security and decisively defeated the enemy'. The military has ruled Pakistan for at least three decades since independence in 1947 and wielded extraordinary influence even with a civilian government in office. But it, and its hardline chief, have rarely received the widespread outpouring of affection seen this month that analysts say has reinforced the military's dominance in the nuclear-armed nation. 'Long live General Asim Munir!' read placards held aloft in rallies in recent days in towns across Pakistan. His picture was put up on lamp posts and bridges, with some banners saying: 'You are our saviour!' A survey conducted after the conflict by Gallup Pakistan, a local pollster, found that 93% of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved. Munir's most bitter domestic foe, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also congratulated the military after this month's clashes with India, claimed by both nations as a victory. 'It's my country, it's my army,' Khan said in a post on X last week. 'I pay tribute to the Pakistan Air Force and all our military personnel for their professionalism and outstanding performance.' Yousuf Nazar, a political commentator, said of Munir: 'He has emerged as Pakistan's strongman with his military's reputation restored as a formidable force.' Six months after he took charge in November 2022, Munir was faced with the most serious challenge to the military's hegemony when Khan's supporters attacked and ransacked military installations. Munir later faced sharp domestic criticism for the jailing of Khan and cracking down on supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, as well as what critics alleged was rigging the general election last year to favour a rival party. But the conflict with India has turned that around, said Ayesha Siddiqa, author of Military Inc, a book on the Pakistan military. 'It has made the general stronger than any other previous generals. He is a hero now,' she said, adding that the contest between the neighbours will be headed by two hardliners, India's Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's Munir, a devout Muslim. 'It's an Islamist general versus a religious strongman,' she said. The military did not respond to questions sent by Reuters. FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE The spark for the latest fighting between the neighbours was an April 22 attack in IIOJK that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on 'terrorists' backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. On May 7, the Indian military carried out air strikes on what it called 'terrorist infrastructure' in Pakistan, in response to the attack in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan claimed to have downed at least 5-6 Indian fighter jets and carried out air strikes on Indian military bases. India has indicated that it suffered some losses and inflicted major damage on key Pakistani air bases and air defence systems. 'Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different,' he said in a speech in Islamabad a week before the attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian army 'with all their wherewithal' cannot 'intimidate' Pakistan, he said, peppering his comments with verses from the Quran. 'Pakistan needs to be a hard state.' Pakistan's counter-strike against India was named by him as 'Bunyan Marsoos', after a Quranic verse, which means Iron Wall, according to the military.
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Beloved strongman: Support for Pakistan army chief surges after India conflict
PAKISTAN'S army chief General Asim Munir is the most powerful man in the country, but his popular support has surged after the worst conflict in decades with arch-rival India, shattering criticism of interference in politics and harshly cracking down on opponents. A grateful government has given him a rare promotion to Field Marshal "in recognition of the strategic brilliance and courageous leadership that ensured national security and decisively defeated the enemy." The military has ruled Pakistan for at least three decades since independence in 1947 and wielded extraordinary influence even with a civilian government in office. But it, and its hardline chief, have rarely received the widespread outpouring of affection seen this month that analysts say has reinforced the military's dominance in the nuclear-armed nation. "Long live General Asim Munir!" read placards held aloft in rallies in recent days in towns across Pakistan. His picture was put up on lamp posts and bridges, with some banners saying: "You are our saviour!" A survey conducted after the conflict by Gallup Pakistan, a local pollster, found that 93 per cent of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved. Munir's most bitter domestic foe, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also congratulated the military after this month's clashes with India, claimed by both nations as a victory. "It's my country, it's my army," Khan said in a post on X last week. "I pay tribute to the Pakistan Air Force and all our military personnel for their professionalism and outstanding performance." Yousuf Nazar, a political commentator, said of Munir: ."He has emerged as Pakistan's strongman with his military's reputation restored as a formidable force." Six months after he took charge in November 2022, Munir was faced with the most serious challenge to the military's hegemony when Khan's supporters attacked and ransacked military installations. Munir later faced sharp domestic criticism for the jailing of Khan and cracking down on supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, as well as what critics alleged was rigging the general election last year to favour a rival party. But the conflict with India has turned that around, said Ayesha Siddiqa, author of Military Inc, a book on the Pakistan military. "It has made the general stronger than any other previous generals. He is a hero now," she said, adding that the contest between the neighbours will be headed by two hardliners, India's Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's Munir, a devout Muslim. "It's an Islamist general versus a religious strongman," she said. The spark for the latest fighting between the neighbours was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on "terrorists" backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. On May 7, the Indian military carried out air strikes on what it called "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan, in response to the attack in Kashmir. Pakistan claimed to have downed at least 5-6 Indian fighter jets and carried out air strikes on Indian military bases. India has indicated that it suffered some losses and inflicted major damage on key Pakistani air bases and air defence systems. Munir, who has memorised the Muslim holy book, the Quran, has publicly underlined what he has said are fundamental differences between Islamic Pakistan and predominantly Hindu India. "Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different," he said in a speech in Islamabad a week before the attack in Indian Kashmir. The Indian army "with all their wherewithal" cannot "intimidate" Pakistan, he said, peppering his comments with verses from the Quran. "Pakistan needs to be a hard state." Pakistan's counter-strike against India was named by him as "Bunyan Marsoos", after a Quranic verse, which means Iron Wall, according to the military. It was launched on May 10 to coincide with dawn prayers, considered an auspicious time for Muslims. Munir, the son of a schoolteacher, is an infantry officer and a former head of both the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence. He remains army chief until November 2027 and could be appointed for another five-year term at that point. Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, said that even before the latest conflict, Munir was more hawkish on India than his predecessor as army chief, who had taken a more pragmatic and less ideological approach, seeking to improve relations. "Conflicts with India remind Pakistanis of the fragility of their country and they rally to their army as the entity that will save the country," said Haqqani. "The recent show of strength and standing up to India has helped General Munir solidify his position within the country."
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Rise of Pakistan's General Munir amid India conflict reshapes military politics: ‘a hero now'
Pakistan 's army chief General Asim Munir is the most powerful man in the country, but his popular support has surged after the worst conflict in decades with arch-rival India , shattering criticism of interference in politics and harshly cracking down on opponents. A grateful government gave him a rare promotion to Field Marshal 'in recognition of the strategic brilliance and courageous leadership that ensured national security and decisively defeated the enemy'. The military has ruled Pakistan for at least three decades since independence in 1947 and wielded extraordinary influence even with a civilian government in office. But it, and its hardline chief, have rarely received the widespread outpouring of affection seen this month that analysts say has reinforced the military's dominance in the nuclear-armed nation. 'Long live General Asim Munir!' read placards held aloft in rallies in recent days in towns across Pakistan. His picture was put up on lamp posts and bridges, with some banners saying: 'You are our saviour!' A survey conducted after the conflict by Gallup Pakistan, a local pollster, found that 93 per cent of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved. Munir's most bitter domestic foe, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also congratulated the military after this month's clashes with India, claimed by both nations as a victory.
