At the end of November, thousands of supporters of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party marched from Peshawar to Islamabad (160 kms) to protest for the release of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Between 24 and 26 November, police and army forces arrested over 1,000 protestors. The protests are part of continuous and escalating clashes between Khan supporters and state forces. The recent protests are particularly remarkable for directly defying the military, the intense backlash from state forces and their sheer scale. Police and army forces locked down Islamabad, banning all assemblies, blocking the roads with shipping containers, and closing all educational institutions. Internet and telecommunication services were partially shut down as well. Under recent legislation, protests in certain parts of Islamabad, called “red zones”, have been severely limited, while punishments for participating in illegal assemblies have greatly increased.

Sources: Straits Times (1), Straits Times (2), Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle (DW), International IDEA, Dawn 

On 6 September 2024, a five-judge panel of the Supreme Court reinstated a set of amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law, overturning a 2023 ruling made by a three-judge panel. The amendments limit the NAB’s authority by prohibiting it from making rulings on corruption cases that concern less than PKR 500 million. The original case was brought by former Prime Minister Imran Khan in front of the Supreme Court in 2023, who argued the amendments protect politicians and enable corruption. Legal experts have raised concerns that the reinstated amendments could potentially weaken anti-corruption efforts by limiting NAB’s investigative powers.

Sources: International IDEA, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Al Jazeera, Tribune, Dawn

On 21 October, the Parliament of Pakistan passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2024, which grants the authority for naming the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to a special Parliamentary Committee whose members are selected by leaders of parliamentary political parties. Previously, the next most senior judge was named Chief Justice automatically. The amendment further introduced a three-year term for chief justices. The bill was passed just before the current Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa is scheduled to retire, and his scheduled replacement under the previous regulations would have been justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who has previously issued verdicts in favour of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his party. The act gives the parliament increased power over the judiciary, and Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warns that the bill threatens judicial independence. 

Sources: National Assembly of Pakistan, Al Jazeera, The Economist

On 6 October, the Pakistan government banned the Pashtun Protection Movement (Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, PTM), an ethnic social movement for Pashtun rights in Pakistan. The Interior Ministry cited peace and security concerns, putting the PTM on the list of proscribed organizations under the country’s anti-terrorism laws. The ban occurred just a few days before a planned assembly of PTM leaders and resulted in protests from PTM supporters, during which three people were killed in clashes with police. Human rights groups warn that banning the PTM is a continuation of the government crackdown on both voices critical of the military establishment and supporters of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan.   

Sources: New York Times, Arab News, Al Jazeera, Amnesty International, Himal Southasian

On 6 September, Pakistan’s president signed the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, which restricts public assemblies in Islamabad. Assemblies are now required to be registered a week in advance and are scrutinized over security and public order concerns. Those who assemble without permission face up to three years in prison for a single attendance and up to ten years for repeated offenses. The bill was passed into law just one week after it was presented to the Senate. The swiftness of the process has led to concerns from opposition leader Senator Shibli Faraz that the law is targeted specifically at members of his party as the opposition had planned a large-scale demonstration the following week. Although the law is restricted to Islamabad, Amnesty International warns it could set a dangerous precedent that could spill over to the rest of the country.

Sources: Senate of Pakistan, Dawn, Amnesty International, Al Jazeera  

The social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) has been banned for six months, with the government citing national security concerns since the February general elections. The Sindh High Court is hearing multiple petitions against the ban, with rights experts questioning its legal grounding. Pakistani users have resorted to using virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the block. Simultaneously, businesses and rights activists have decried plummeting internet speeds affecting WhatsApp and other internet services, which, according to media reports, have dropped by 40 per cent. Digital rights experts have criticized the ban and internet disruptions as a violation of citizens’ right to free speech, with some industry experts noting that Pakistan is testing a firewall security system to monitor network traffic and control online spaces. The government and telecommunication authorities have provided conflicting responses behind the disruptions, citing a faulty undersea cable, a “web management system” upgrade to deal with cyber security threats and the overuse of VPNs. The conflicting responses have prompted an Islamabad High Court hearing on the matter set for 3 September.

Sources: Amnesty International, The New York Times, Dawn (1), The Diplomat, Dawn (2), The Express Tribune, VOA News

On 12 July, the Supreme Court declared that former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was entitled to its share of reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies. Pakistan’s National Assembly has 70 reserved seats (60 for women and 10 for minorities) that are distributed among parties based on their performance in the general election. The verdict will likely see more than 20 seats go to PTI-backed candidates in the National Assembly, significantly altering the balance of power and depriving the ruling coalition of a two-thirds majority. Ahead of the February election, PTI candidates had to run as independents after losing their party status and electoral symbol due to a legal case. Following the election, an Election Commission order, upheld by a lower court, barred these candidates from reserved seats. The SC decision has now reversed this, stating that the commission misinterpreted a previous verdict on PTI's electoral symbol.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Dawn, International IDEA

On 14 July, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the government is seeking to ban former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on the grounds of inciting violent protests last year and leaking classified information. The announcement comes days after a court overturned several of Khan’s previous convictions, as well as a Supreme Court decision declaring PTI eligible for reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies. In July, it was further revealed that a United Nations panel declared that Khan’s detention was arbitrary and in violation of international law, calling for his immediate release. The panel noted that Khan’s legal woes were part of a larger campaign of repression against him and his PTI party. Political analysts and rights bodies note that the decision to ban PTI appears politically motivated and an act of “political desperation.” It remains to be seen if and how the government will move forward with the ban.

Sources: Al Jazeera, The Express Tribune, Brookings, The Express Tribune, OHCHR

On 8 July, the government formally granted the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) the authority to intercept and trace citizens’ calls and messages in the “interest of national security.” Opposition leaders and watchdog agencies have raised concerns about the constitutionality of this decision, citing potential privacy violations and the risk of the legal authorization being misused for political ends. Critics argue that the authorization could further entrench the military-run ISI’s influence in national politics. Legal experts note that although this practice is not new, it will now continue under legal sanction. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan stated that “…this measure will invariably be used to clamp down on political dissent through means of blackmail, harassment, and intimidation.”

Sources: Dawn, Reuters, VOA News

On 20 May, the Punjab Provincial Assembly passed the Punjab Defamation Act of 2024, establishing special tribunals to handle fake news allegations with fines of up to 3 million Pakistani Rupees (approximately USD 10,750) without needing proof of damage or loss. The law permits tribunals to suspend or block the social media account or website on which the alleged defamatory content was posted – a move coinciding with Pakistan’s intermittent blocking of X (formerly Twitter) since February. Press freedom advocates and rights bodies have criticized the bill for its severe penalties and the potential for misuse against government critics, calling for its withdrawal and citing threats to press freedom. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has raised concern that the bill was passed in a rushed manner with no meaningful consultation with civil society and media stakeholders. The Act has been challenged in the Lahore High Court, with petitions filed mere hours after it was signed into law.

Sources: Dawn, International Federation of Journalists, The Diplomat

On 30 January, former Prime Minister Imran Khan received a 10-year jail sentence for revealing state secrets. The following day, an anti-graft court imposed a 14-year sentence on Khan for illegally selling state gifts. In another setback, the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission’s decision to strip PTI of its signature cricket bat symbol, citing irregularities in recent intra-party elections. This move was criticized for denying voters the chance to identify the party in upcoming elections, particularly in a country with low literacy rates, and forcing PTI candidates to run as independents. PTI alleges that the government (possibly acting through the army) launched a crackdown on its members after the 9 May riots, resulting in the imprisonment and forced resignations of many of its members. Furthermore, the Supreme Court in January scrapped a lifetime ban on politicians with convictions from holding office, with disqualifications now limited to five-year terms. The ruling makes it possible for Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party to run for office, while Khan remains prohibited due to his five-year ban from a prior conviction. Human rights bodies have expressed concerns that recent developments undermine the fair competition and credibility of the upcoming election. 

Sources: Reuters, The Express Tribune, United Nations, Council of Foreign Affairs, International IDEA

Pakistan held its general election on 8 February to elect representatives for the National Assembly and the prime minister. Preliminary election results show that independent candidates won 101 of the 336 National Assembly seats, the majority of which are affiliated with jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), headed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, came in second with 75 seats, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) secured 54 seats. With no single party securing an outright majority, the formation of a government remained uncertain, leaving the decision on the next prime minister in limbo. On 13 February, it was announced Sharif’s PML-N would form a coalition with PPP and other junior parties, allowing them to gain a simple majority - with Shehbaz Sharif nominated to resume the premiership. Voter turnout was 47.8 per cent, down from 51.9 per cent in 2018. Despite a record number of women registered to vote, the turnout for women voters remained low. A record 12 women secured seats in the National Assembly, up from 8 elected in the previous election. The election was marred by controversy and violence, including allegations of electoral fraud, poll rigging, internet disruptions, and mobile service suspensions due to two separate bomb blasts near election candidates’ offices on the eve of the election. The significant delay in announcing election results also fuelled suspicions of political engineering.

Sources: Election Commission of Pakistan, Al Jazeera, Dawn, FAFEN, Pakistan Today