Why always popular leaders have been assassinated in Pakistan? Who gets insecure with the popularity of a great leader?

Cyberwar and digital despotism: The battle for freedom in Pakistan.

OVERVIEW:

For over two years, Pakistan has been engulfed in a severe political crisis threatening economical, national and security stability. Oppressive groups are continuously working to control and ban social and digital media to suppress the largest political party of the country.

BACKGROUND:

History of Pakistan is full of assassination attempts of popular political leaders and other attempts to suppress the political party having the largest mandate.

Why always popular leaders have been assassinated in Pakistan? Who gets insecure with the popularity of a great leader?

Historical Context:

The story begins after the death of founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah on September 11, 1948 - when first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated on October 16, 1951.

In 1970 general elections, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman emerged as the most popular leader both in East and West Pakistan. The election was a competition between two most famous parties - Awami league (AL) of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Mujibur Rahman's party dominated over PPP. General Yahya Khan along with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto suppressed AL's mandate ordering "Operation Searchlight" resulting in a civil war that led to the formation of Bangladesh.

After Yahya Khan's resignation in 1992, power was handed over to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

In 1979, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged, murdered judicially, by General Zia-ul-Haq. Bhutto became the most popular leader after the tragic incident of 1971 (formation of Bangladesh).

Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was assassinated in a gun and bomb attack in Rawalpindi.

Origin of the Conflict:

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan  no-confidence motion was ousted in a no-confidence motion on April 10, 2022 at 12 a.m. Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM)  no-confidence motion against Imran Khan was dismissed by deputy speaker Qasim Khan Suri's ruling on April 7, 2022. Suri stated that the  no-confidence motion is against 'Article: 05' and mentioned 'Foreign Interference'.

As Prime Minister, on March 27, 2022,  Imran Khan told public about 'Foreign Conspiracy' in a public gathering at Islamabad by raising a letter received from another state.

While addressing to the nation on March 31, 2022, Imran Khan told the public, in what appeared to be a tongue slip that America was behind conspiracy to remove him as a PM.

Following Khan's removal from the office a massive protest was held by the citizens all over Pakistan. Moreover, overseas Pakistanis also protested against PDM and establishment.

Imran Ahmad Khan carried out a long series of public gatherings, rallies and protest breaking all the popularity records and emerging as the most popular leader of all times in the historical context of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), faced a severe crackdown - workers got arrested, illegally abducted and tortured. Electronic media was entirely captured by the oppressors and still it is controlled since Imran Khan was outed but all in vain as public refused to stop supporting their leader Imran khan.

History of Pakistan states that how media has been a tool for oppressors to suppress the popularity of a political leader by launching propaganda and manipulating people through electronic media.

Interestingly, all activities of oppressors got failed against Imran Khan because it is the time of social and digital media. Pakistani citizens boycotted the media channels in support of Imran Khan.

Despite controlled electronic media PTI transferred its messages through social media effectively. PTI is far ahead from other political parties in technology.

A series of trends were followed by the public on social media. Most importantly the trend #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور (#Imported_Governmnet_Rejected) had broken the records by becoming the biggest ever trend on the twitter (X).

Moreover, PTI also created Imran Khan's AI clone to deliver speech.

Not only PTI workers and leaders, also the journalists speaking in favour of Iman Khan and were exposing the truth were abducted or 

kidnapped and tortured. On October 23, 2022 Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was assassinated in Kenya. Journalists and PTI members are facing these tactics and torture since 2022. Even they started arresting the people on the basis of their social media posts.

Following the removal from PM office Khan faced a long series of 200 cases including the hidden cases. Out of which prominent cases are; Tosha khana, Cipher, 9th May case, Al-Qadir trust case and Iddat case.

On November 2022 Imran Khan survived the assassination attempt in Wazirabad during his long march. In that attack he received four bullets

in his lower limbs.

On May 9, 2023 Imran Khan was arrested from Islamabad High Court on corruption charges in Al-Qadir trust case. On May 11 Supreme Court of Pakistan declared his arrest illegal and released on May 13.

On August 5, 2023 police arrested Imran Khan from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore after a trial court sentenced him three years in jail. He was shifted to Attock jail and nearly after one and

a half month, on September 26, 2023 shifted from Attock to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

On December 22, 2023 Election Commission of Pakistan deprived PTI of its electoral symbol - "bat" but PTI didn't rule out of election as all of the candidates contested in election as an independent candidate.

Just a few days before general elections Imran Khan was sentenced 10 years in cipher case and 14 years along with 10 years of disqualification in Tosha Khana case on January 30 and 31 respectively. Moreover, a seven years imprisonment in Iddat case February 4, 2024.

On February 8, general elections were conducted countywide and Khan's party clean sweeped the elections as the most popular party emerging as the most popular party. It was first time in electoral history of Pakistan that turnout was recorded more than 60%.

Mafia sitting behind changed the electoral results at night, but all in vain, international media already reported Khan's victory and Pakistanis knew the real results.

Votes management became far difficult for oppressors because of largest turnout and strongest vote bank of Imran Khan.

Thus, Shahbaz Sharif government was announced on 3rd March despite losing elections.

 

CYBER TACTICS:

Since, April 2022, oppressors -in addition of arresting political workers & journalists, banning PTI public gatherings & rallies - have been ordering censorship of internet and banning social media platforms. Recently, government has started using firewall.

Social Media Bans:

Twilla (X) has been banned in Pakistan since February 2024 general elections. Since then citizens and government officials are using VPN.

Controlled electronic media was announcing opposite election results, at the same time PTI and journalists were using twitter to share real results.

Social media shutdown have been seen during PTI's public gatherings, virtual rallies and fund raising telethons.

Internet Blackouts:

The solution to social media apps ban is to use vpn. But what, if government orders countrywide internet blackout.

Government shutdown internet for three days on May 9, 2023 the day rangers had arrested Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court. Internet blackout caused millions of loss affecting 125 million people.

Firewall Installation:

A few days ago government has installed firewall to control social media which is a threat to freedom of expression.

Its purpose is to allow governments favourable traffic and  censor contents that government and mafia wants. 

Now a days, due to firewall installation, internet speed at downs at irritating level. Internet based businesses are facing decline.

It clearly seems that the purpose behind installation of firewalls is to suppress political opposition.

ADAPTATIVE STRATEGIES:

Government banned twiller (X) on February 2024 that leads to 400 % increase in VPN usage all over Pakistan.

Moreover, Proton VPN calculated 6000% increase in sign-ups in May 2023 when Imran Khan was arrested.

VPN works as an effective strategy during social media ban or disruption but can't during internet blackouts.

POOR INTERNET SPEED:

VPN can reduce internet speed due to various factors. In addition to VPN usage, firewall installation in Pakistan has resulted in adverse impact on internet affecting online businesses and transfer of information.