Azhar Mashwani, a Pakistani dissident residing in the UK, faced threats of violence against his family if he attended a critical event at the British parliament discussing the Pakistani government’s treatment of its opposition.
Mashwani, who was a senior aide to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was scheduled to speak at the House of Lords regarding the crackdown on Khan’s supporters. Two days before the event, he received a threatening phone call warning that his parents would be abducted if he participated, reflecting ongoing intimidation efforts by Khan’s adversaries.
Mashwani expressed his distress about these threats and the impact on his ability to exercise his rights while in the UK. He conveyed his fears of potential attacks and highlighted the oppressive atmosphere he faces despite being abroad. His situation underscores the broader context of suppression and intimidation faced by Khan’s supporters and political dissidents.
Pakistani Dissident Faces Threats Over Parliament Event Amid Crackdown on Khan’s Supporters
Since Khan’s imprisonment in August 2023, which the UN has criticized as lacking a legal basis, there has been a significant crackdown on his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Many of Khan’s supporters have been detained, and there are discussions about banning the PTI.
This has intensified since Khan’s arrest, which has been used to justify the detainment of thousands of PTI members and has impeded Khan’s ability to run for office in the recent elections.
The unrest following Khan’s arrest led to attacks on military facilities by his supporters, which the government used to justify its harsh measures. The charges against Khan and his party have been described as politically motivated attempts to exclude them from power, as his party won the most seats in the latest general election.
Despite the government’s claims of legal grounds for their actions, the UN has called for Khan’s release, deeming his detention arbitrary and in violation of international law.
Pakistan’s information minister recently suggested plans to ban PTI, citing allegations of foreign funding and riots by supporters as justification. However, the Shehbaz Sharif government contends that the legal actions against PTI activists are a response to the violence and unrest caused by Khan’s supporters.
This ongoing political turmoil highlights the severe conflicts and challenges facing Pakistan’s democratic institutions and opposition figures.
