Amidst Fears of War with India, Calls for Imran Khan's Release Intensify in Pakistan. Social media users are also demanding the resignation of the army chief.
Pakistan: Following the Pulwama terrorist attack in India, an atmosphere of anxiety pervades Pakistan. The government and military are trying to understand how India will respond to the attack. Meanwhile, political turmoil within Pakistan has also intensified.
Demands for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan are gaining momentum once again. His party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his supporters have begun raising this issue, along with demands for the resignation of Army Chief General Asim Munir, on both social media and in parliament.
Imran Khan's Supporters Launch Release Campaign
Several trends have emerged on social media regarding Imran Khan's release. Using the hashtag #ReleaseKhanForPakistan, over 300,000 posts have been made so far, while the #FreeImranKhan hashtag has recorded over 35,000 tweets.
These trends demand the immediate release of Imran Khan, given the current national situation, so that he can participate in national decision-making. This campaign alleges that the Pulwama attack was orchestrated with the connivance of the Pakistani army chief.
Growing Dissatisfaction with the Military
This is not the first time questions have been raised about the military's role in Pakistan. However, the level of dissatisfaction is considerably deeper this time. Many citizens and political leaders have directly blamed General Asim Munir's policies. Hashtags like #ResignAsimMunir, #PakistanUnderMilitaryFascism, and #UndeclaredMartialLaw are going viral on social media, clearly indicating a decline in public trust in the military.
Release Demand Echoed in the Senate
Last week, PTI Senator Shibli Faraz also demanded Imran Khan's release in the Pakistani Senate. He stated that Imran Khan's participation is necessary in the current national crisis and the government should consider this. Following this statement, debate on this issue has begun in parliament.
