Pakistan political crisis

China’s foreign minister made an unusually blunt demand for stability during his recent trip. Days later, Pakistan’s political unrest entered a new phase.

The current crisis in Pakistan may turn out to be a challenge for New Delhi after all.

His arrest sparked violence earlier this week and now Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled it illegal.

The arrests followed mob attacks on government buildings, military installations, and public places in response to Khan’s arrest on Tuesday.

The last year has been been a microcosm of Pakistan’s seven decades of dysfunction, now culminating in ambiguity over the most fundamental of democratic exercises: holding an election. 

The decision seems aimed at assuaging close ally China, which has provided Pakistan with millions of dollars to ease its forex crisis.

One of Khan's supporters was killed and 13 others, including two lawmakers, were wounded in the attack.

"I will soon give you a call for a march on Islamabad," Khan told a cheering crowd this week in Peshawar, then asked: "Are you ready for it?"

A conviction against Khan, who is to appear before the Islamabad High Court on August 31, would mean disqualification from politics for life.

“Pakistan and Sri Lanka have experienced the most political tumult in South Asia, and in both cases it’s been driven by economic stress.”

While Khan has lost the prime minister’s office, his core base of supporters has not abandoned him.