Pakistan Moves to Quell Uprising Against Prime Minister: WSJ

The government of Nawaz Sharif, who is battling corruption allegations, imposed a two-month ban on public assembly in Islamabad

Wall Street Journal

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Pakistani authorities moved swiftly on Friday to suppress a nascent protest movement aimed at ousting the country’s prime minister during a time of strained relations between civilian politicians and the powerful military.

Police ringed the residence of prominent opposition leader Imran Khan, who was inside. Police also clashed with backers who tried to march in Rawalpindi, close to the capital. Dozens were arrested. A two-month prohibition on public assembly was imposed in Islamabad.

The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is battling corruption allegations from Mr. Khan and others, said it declared the ban fearing large-scale protests would undermine a tentative economic recovery and distract focus from counterterrorism efforts.

“Pakistan is on its way to becoming a developed country. That’s what concerns the opposition,” Mr. Sharif said in a speech Friday. “If this development continues in Pakistan until 2018, their politics will be finished.” The country’s next national election is due in 2018.

A 2014 demonstration led by Mr. Khan, a cricket-player-turned-politician, weakened the premier and let the army gain more sway over policy, Mr. Sharif’s backers say. They allege Mr. Khan was supported then by parts of the military, something he and the military deny.

On Thursday, Mr. Khan vowed to paralyze the capital and force the closure of government offices next week, saying he would ignore a court order not to march.

“I ask the Nawaz Sharif government, is this a monarchy or a democracy?” Mr. Khan said Friday. “You won’t be able to stop the flood of people coming to Islamabad.”

Mr. Khan is demanding Mr. Sharif resign or “submit himself for accountability” after the “Panama papers” leak revealed that his children own fancy London apartments through offshore holding companies.

Mr. Sharif has said he isn\’t corrupt and that his wealth comes from long-running family businesses.

The Supreme Court is to begin hearing a case next week into Mr. Sharif’s alleged connection to the offshore companies and London properties.

Tallal Chaudry, a lawmaker from Mr. Sharif’s party, said the government was obligated to block Mr. Khan’s planned demonstrations.

“There’s a clear difference between protest and mutiny,” Mr. Chaudry said. “It’s our responsibility to protect the common citizen’s rights, to go to school, to go to the hospital, free movement, and to provide our institutions an environment in which they can work.”

In addition to Mr. Sharif’s troubles with the parliamentary opposition, his ties to the military are also under pressure. Mr. Sharif’s policy of outreach toward rival India has stalled after two attacks in India this year from jihadist groups New Delhi says are close to Pakistan’s military.

A Pakistani newspaper this month reported Mr. Sharif’s administration had complained to the military that inaction against jihadist groups targeting neighboring countries was leading to international isolation. The military says it is cracking down on all terrorists.

Both the military and the government have described the story as “fabricated.” The army chief met Thursday with Mr. Sharif’s top aides to discuss the findings of a government probe into the story, published by the English-language daily Dawn.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sharif’s tussle with the military over the levers of power continues, political experts say. And some analysts see a desire in the military to weaken Mr. Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party before the 2018 election.

The military, which has staged coups in the past, didn’t respond to a request for comment. Since democracy was restored in 2008, the military has said it isn’t involved in politics and supports elected governments.

—Qasim Nauman contributed to this article.