Crisis deepens in Pakistan as Khan’s protest march banned
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government on Tuesday banned a planned protest march by ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is demanding fresh elections as a political and economic crises deepens in the South Asian nation, officials said. The ban was announced by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah at a news briefing hours after a policeman was shot and killed during a crackdown on Khan’s supporters across the country.
An official of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf (PTI) party had shot and killed the policeman when police visited his house, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told a news briefing, adding that the accused and his father had been arrested. “No one would be allowed to siege the capital and dictate his demands,” the interior minister said, adding that cabinet had approved the ban.
“They’re coming to Islamabad with evil designs,” the interior minister said, citing intelligence reports about the march.
Khan, 69, the cricketerturned-politician, was removed from power through a no-confidence vote in parliament by the opposition parties last month.
He has given a call for the march in the capital Islamabad on May 25, followed by a sit-in to force the government to call for snap polls.
“Punjab police have arrested over 250 PTI activists across the Punjab province so far,” Punjab government spokesperson
Attaullah Tarar said.
He, however, denied the claim of the PTI that over 1,000 party workers and office-bearers have been arrested in Punjab alone. Tarar said the crackdown is under way and more arrests are expected.
With foreign reserves falling to $10.3 billion - lower than two months of import bills - a fastcrashing Pakistani rupee and a double-digit inflation, the political turmoil has compounded economic volatility in the country. Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Khan last month, has yet to take bold steps towards putting the economy back on track.
Talks are ongoing in Doha between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to resume a $6 billion rescue package agreed in 2019, and are due to conclude on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is finalising the extension of the kingdom’s $3 billion deposit to Pakistan, Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed al-jadaan told Reuters.