The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, tabled by Pakistan‘s federal government and passed by the Senate on November 10, is far from a routine procedural adjustment. It represents a structural reconfiguration of the Pakistani state. The provisions, now awaiting final approval from the National Assembly, will effectively formalise Pakistan‘s foundational transition from a de facto hybrid military system to a constitutional framework in which the military establishment holds a legally codified and dominant position.
Archiv: assassination attempt on Imran Khan 03-11-2022 / arrest 09-05-2023 / mass protests / power struggle / new arrest 05-08-2023 / Pakistan
At least 12 killed in Islamabad suicide attack – the most deadly assault in the Pakistani capital since 2008
(today)
The country’s president Asif Ali Zardari “strongly condemned the suicide blast” near the city’s High Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Islamabad requires a high level of security to enter and exit the city with specific security zones throughout the capital.
Pakistan‘s army chief to get expanded powers under proposed reform
(November 10, 2025)
Army chief Asim Munir, described by U.S. President Donald Trump as his „favourite Field Marshal“, would take overall command of the military – including air and naval forces – with the new position of Chief of Defence Forces under the proposed amendment. After completion of his term, he would retain his rank and have legal immunity for life.
(…)
Constitutional cases would no longer be heard by the Supreme Court but by a new Federal Constitutional Court, with judges appointed by the government.
Imran may stay behind bars in 2026 and beyond
(October 25, 2025)
Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi’s appeals against their conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case have not yet been scheduled for hearing by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Before that, the IHC must hear their plea seeking the suspension of their conviction, and there is no indication of when that will be taken up.
Under the policy announced by the IHC, such appeals are heard strictly in the order of filing. The IHC’s “Fixation Policy,” framed under the directions of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC), gives priority to older and more serious criminal cases, particularly those involving death sentences and life imprisonment.
Imran Khan’s appeal in the Al-Qadir Trust case, in which he and his wife were sentenced to 14 years, was filed on January 31, 2024 has not been fixed for hearing as yet.
The Trial and Imprisonment of Pakistan’s Imran Khan
(November 6, 2025)
After a decade and a half of making little headway in politics, Khan aligned himself and his PTI with the military in the early 2010s, and eventually rose to power as prime minister in 2018. After some years of power-sharing, Khan fell out of favor with the military establishment and was ousted from office after a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Khan blamed the army and the United States for engineering his ouster, and led energetic protests demanding immediate, fresh elections. After he was briefly arrested in May 2023, his followers attacked Pakistan’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi and the home of a senior military official in Lahore. Khan stands accused of instigating those attacks.
In a first, ISI chief made national security adviser
A notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday said that Gen Malik would retain his role as DG ISI, a position he has held since September 2024.
“Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik HI(M), DG (I), shall hold the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect,” the notification stated.
His appointment marks the first time a serving ISI chief will concurrently serve as the NSA.
Pakistan’s ISI chief Muhammad Asim Malik appointed as National Security Adviser
The NSA position had remained vacant since April 2022, when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was ousted.
Vivek Katju writes: With Pakistan poll results, Imran Khan vs General Asim Munir will continue
The true protagonists in the February 8 national polls in Pakistan were two individuals — Army Chief General Asim Munir and former Prime Minister and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, Imran Khan. Munir used all levers of state power from behind the scenes and through other institutions and individuals to try to grind Khan into electoral dust. With results of 250 of the 266 general seats contested in the elections announced so far, it is certain, that he has failed to do so.
Delays spoil the party for PTI backed independents
Even after a lapse of more than seven hours, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not given any reason for the delay leading to the expression of suspicions from contesting parties.
Prior to the elections, the electoral watchdog had introduced a new system called the Election Management System (EMS) to organize the results, but so far, the performance of the system has belied the ECP claims.
Twitter down in Pakistan after ‘controversial election under internet blackout’
ISLAMABAD: Social media platform ‘X’ is down across Pakistan as reported by Netblocks, on Saturday.
“Live metrics show a nation scale disruption X/Twitter across Pakistan: The incident come amid political turmoil after controversial election held under an internet and mobile network blackout”. the post on ‘X’ by Netblocks read.
Delays, deals, nepo babies, trends and vote rigging: Five takeaways from Pakistan’s elections
Candidates observing the count at polling stations said they saw significant leads suddenly disappear or results that were announced in their favor only to be reversed to declare an opponent the winner. They said they were marched off polling station grounds or barred from entering once voting ended and that polling agents were stopped from collecting results.
The majority of irregularities and impediments were reported by independent candidates backed by imprisoned ex-premier Imran Khan’s party.
Pakistan Army Chief Says Need To Move On From „Politics Of Anarchy“
Politicians and political parties rise and fall with the backing of the military, which this year was widely believed to be backing the party of three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Nawaz Sharif declares victory in Pakistan‘s election, despite failing to win a majority of seats
Mr Sharif‘s party won the most seats by a single party in Thursday‘s election, but supporters of imprisoned former prime minister Mr Khan, who ran as independents instead of as a single bloc after his party was barred from the polls, won the most seats overall.
In shock result, allies of jailed ex-leader Khan win most seats in Pakistan election
(Updated 3:01 AM EST, Sat February 10, 2024)
Khan’s opponent, former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, claimed that his PMLN party had emerged with the largest share. He admitted that his party did not have the “majority to form a government” and was looking for coalition partners.
Sharif, who once saw one of his terms end in a military coup, is considered by analysts to be favored by the country’s military establishment. The military has previously denied backing Sharif.
Pakistan: Election-day internet shutdown is a reckless attack on people’s rights
(08.02.2024)
On 6 February, Amnesty International and other members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 300 organisations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns — wrote to the caretaker Prime Minister Mr Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, to ensure unfettered access to the internet, social media platforms, and all other communication channels throughout Pakistan’s general election.
Pakistani authorities have already imposed multiple shutdowns that violated the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including of opposition leaders and parties, during this election cycle.
After the whole system has been sent in panic mode by #MassiveTurnout for PTI, they have stopped the results and now filling alternate Form 45. Pakistanis, protect your vote by going back to polling stations to get results before they change the results.
We have heard that they are planning to tell PTI Polling Agents and supporters to collect Form 45 from another location e.g. Election Commission office. All polling agents and supporters are requested to stay at the Polling Station as per Rules, this is where Form 45 shall be given. Stay peaceful as they might try to create chaos to push people away.
#ProtectTheVote #RespectTheVote
Despite every possible method employed to undermine the will of the people, our people have spoken via #MassiveTurnout for vote today. As we have repeatedly stated, „no force can defeat an idea whose time has come.“ It is now critical to guard the vote by getting Form 45.
Despite jailing and sidelining, Imran Khan’s party leading
Imran Khan complicated the possibility of Washington providing moral support, even if it were inclined, by framing his removal from office through a vote of no confidence as a U.S.-backed regime change conspiracy. This move heightened anti-American sentiment in the country.
Pakistan elections are a sham without Imran Khan
It is election day in Pakistan. But in the world’s fifth largest democracy, people are not able to vote for the most popular leader, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who cannot contest elections after having been disbarred. Khan will spend today – and potentially 14 more years – in jail. So how did the situation get so bad and what lies ahead?
Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), are leading in opinion surveys, but their electoral symbol has been banned, and observers are predicting that the vote will be a fait accompli for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).
Asim Munir (general)
Syed Asim Munir[1][3] NI(M) (Urdu: سید عاصم منیر)[1] is a Pakistani army general and the current Chief of Army Staff since 29 November 2022.[4] Prior to becoming the army chief, he was posted at the GHQ as Quartermaster general.[5] He commanded the XXX Corps in Gujranwala from 17 June 2019 to 6 October 2021.[6] He served as the 23rd Director-General of the ISI until he was replaced by lieutenant general Faiz Hameed on 16 June 2019.
Pakistan’s former premier Imran Khan and wife convicted of marriage law violation in a fourth case
(04.02.2024)
Analysts say Khan’s multiple and apparently hasty convictions are seen by his party and supporters as punishment for his rhetoric against Pakistan’s powerful military leadership, which has ruled the country for half of its 76-year history. During his final months in power, Khan had broadened his fight with opponents to include the military.
After 2016 — first Brexit, then Trump‘s win — Western elites decided populations could no longer be trusted with basic freedoms: they choose and think wrong. That‘s what led to the censorship/“disinformation“ regime. Now they‘re barring the leading candidate from running:
Imagine if Biden wins with Trump banned or jailed: US sermons about „democracy,“ or condemning Putin imprisoning Navalny, will be seen as an even bigger joke than now.
One of the West‘s key dissidents (Assange) is jailed. They censor dissent. Now they‘re trying to ban Trump.
It‘s always been a huge propagandistic mystery that the US media succeeds in convincing Americans that the US Govt defends freedom as it props up the worst dictators (Saudi, Egypt, etc.).
They‘re now escalating it in desperation: first after 2016, now seeing Trump/Biden polls.
Fear of free populations is a global trend. In Brazil, they imprisoned Lula in 2018 when leading all polls, then banned Bolsonaro from running.
In Pakistan, CIA engineered removal and imprisonment of Imran Khan.
All Western countries are increasing online speech controls.
Pakistan sets election for January, likely minus Imran Khan
(September 21, 2023)
The election commission has already questioned the impartiality of the caretaker government led by Kakar, who comes from a pro-military party, saying it appears to be aligned with the opponents of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
As it stands, former premier Khan, the main opposition leader, cannot fight this election after he was barred from public office for five years after a corruption investigation.
Did US ask for Imran Khan’s removal as Pakistan PM after he visited Russia?
(10 Aug 2023)
Khan was sacked from power in April 2022 after he lost a no-confidence vote in parliament. He alleged he knew of the “cypher” while he was in office which, according to him, proved the US hatched a conspiracy with the help of his political opponents and the Pakistani military to remove him.
He later made a U-turn, saying he wants good relations with the US, but continued to blame his successor Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the military for orchestrating his removal.
Secret Pakistan Cable Documents U.S. Pressure to Remove Imran Khan
(09.08.2023)
One month after the meeting with U.S. officials documented in the leaked Pakistani government document, a no-confidence vote was held in Parliament, leading to Khan’s removal from power. The vote is believed to have been organized with the backing of Pakistan’s powerful military. Since that time, Khan and his supporters have been engaged in a struggle with the military and its civilian allies, whom Khan claims engineered his removal from power at the request of the U.S.
The text of the Pakistani cable, produced from the meeting by the ambassador and transmitted to Pakistan, has not previously been published. The cable, known internally as a “cypher,” reveals both the carrots and the sticks that the State Department deployed in its push against Khan, promising warmer relations if Khan was removed, and isolation if he was not.
National Assembly to be dissolved on August 9
(04.08.2023)
The Constitution provides that if the assembly completes its tenure, elections are to be held in 60 days, but in case of premature dissolution — which will be the case here — this period is extended to 90 days. (…)
Earlier in the day, the prime minister listed reasons why he was taking Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir along on major issues and initiatives.
It has been observed for the last few days that the COAS accompanied the PM at different occasions and ceremonies.
‚I would like to thank my brother Saudi Crown Prince,‘ says Pak PM on receiving $2-bn financial support
(Jul 11, 2023)
In April, Saudi Arabia made a commitment to provide financial assistance and subsequently awaited the arrival of the aid package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before depositing it into the State Bank of Pakistan.
This much-needed support will help bolster the central bank‘s dwindling foreign exchange reserves, which had declined to a level barely sufficient to cover a month‘s worth of regulated imports.
چیئرمین عمران خان کا خصوصی پیغام (گرفتاری کے امکان کے پیشِ نظر یہ خصوصی بیان پہلے سے ریکارڈ شدہ ہے)
چیئرمین پاکستان تحریک انصاف عمران خان کا خصوصی پیغام (گرفتاری کے امکان کے پیشِ نظر یہ خصوصی بیان پہلے سے ریکارڈ شدہ ہے)
Imran Khan’s pre-recorded video goes viral after his arrest in Toshakhana case
The clip, which was recorded before much-anticipated arrest, was shared by PTI accounts as the arrest of popular politician holds potential of changing country’s political landscape.
In the 2-minute clip, the ousted PM said ‚My dear Pakistanis, this clip of mine will reach you by the time I got arrested in an unlawful case.‘
PTI calls core committee meeting; Qureshi asks party workers to remain peaceful
Reacting to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s arrest, party stalwart Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday that a meeting of the core committee has been summoned and urged supporters to not take the law into their hands.
“Peaceful protest is our right but no state asset is to be damaged. Don’t take the law in your hands,” he cautioned, in a video statement released shortly after the PTI chief was handed a three-year prison term in the Toshakhanna case.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan sentenced to three years in prison, arrested
In a video recorded before his arrest and posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Khan called on his supporters to take to the streets in protest.
“I only have one request, one appeal for you. You must not sit quietly inside your homes. The struggle I am doing is not for my own self, it’s for my nation, for you. For the future of your children,” he said.
“If you don’t stand up for your rights, you will live lives of slaves and slaves don’t have a life.”
Two of our senior members from the negotiations committee I had formed, Pervez Khattak and Asad Qaiser, were called for a meeting by the intelligence agencies. They have now been illegally detained in a safe house and are being forced to quit PTI for their release.
(Jun 1, 2023)
In the law of jungle, might is right and the weak have no protection.
Imran Khan left alone, PTI leaders left the party, Pakistani Army Chief’s plan successful!
(03.06.2023)
Several analysts, as well as PTI members, say the army chief is now trying to break his party before arresting him and putting him on trial in a military court.