The ouster of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has led to an unprecedented backlash against the country’s all-powerful military establishment. People have expressed anti-army sentiments after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan accused the military of planning his downfall along with the United States. In rallies held across Pakistan, protesters have raised slogans in support of Khan and against the military.
One of the slogans raised by protesters is “Anyone who is friends with America is a traitor” translated from “Amreeka ka jo yaar hai gadaar hai,” New Lines Magazine reported. It is pertinent to note here that Imran Khan became the first Prime Minister in Pakistan’s history to be ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote. Presently, anti-army sentiments are highly visible in Pakistan. People continue to voice their opinion against the military on social media despite accounts being suspended and arrests being made of people accused of planning anti-army campaigns on the internet. After Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa traveled to the United States in October, hashtags like BajwaHasToGo and BajwaTraitor trended on social media, accusing General Bajwa of following US orders in Pakistan.
Speaking at a press conference, “spymaster” Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum sitting alongside Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar said that the army and security agencies were not traitors.
Speaking on air, Gill said that senior army officers should ignore their military leaders if they have been directed to do anything against the interests of the people. The PEMRA said that statements made by Gill have been “tantamount to inciting the rank and file of armed forces towards revolt,” as per the New Lines Magazine report.
Shahbaz Gill was later detained in Islamabad and Pakistan’s interior minister Rana Sanaullah informed that Gill was arrested on charges of sedition and abetting mutiny. Senior anchor Arshad Sharif who interviewed Gill was also charged with sedition for peddling an anti-state narrative. Sharif was shot dead by local police in Kenya on October 23. Kenyan Police claimed that Sharif’s killing was a case of mistaken identity. However, many in Kenya and Pakistan raised doubts over reports of the death of a senior journalist, with some activists claiming that it was a hit job. The incident further fueled the anti-army sentiment in Pakistan.