The opposition parties of Pakistan have mounted a massive and unprecedented protest campaign against the current Imran Khan-led puppet government of the Islamic Republic, which under the rule of the former cricketer has become even more of a client state of China, and one which has also irked the Arab world to make friends with an Erdoğan-led Turkey. So, as the Arab world led by Saudi Arabia, the de factor Islamic hegemon, works towards ousting Imran Khan government in Pakistan, China is putting all its weight behind their loyal stooge-like Prime Minister in Islamabad.
Thousands of people were seen on the streets as anti-government protests rocked the country. Called by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an umbrella association of opposition parties in Pakistan, the massive protests are aimed at causing the immediate ouster of Imran Khan as Prime Minister. The opposition parties of Pakistan are said to have held a day-long multi-party meeting to plan the countrywide protests, which was attended by some prominent opposition leaders like Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Interestingly, those who enjoyed the support of Pakistan Army during their reign over Pakistan are now the same people who are decrying the military’s involvement in the governance of the country. Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif lashed out at the Imran Khan government and said that under his rule, the army has gone from a ‘state within a state’ to a ‘state above the state.’
TFI has earlier reported how Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Gulf were rallying behind Pakistan’s former Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to enter active politics in the country, in a signal that the Arab world has had just about enough of Imran Khan and his desperation to rake the issue of Kashmir on every platform. Similarly, Imran Khan is China’s madman, who will do its anti-India bidding on umpteen number of platforms whenever need be.
Saudi Arabia would rather like to have a government in Pakistan which does not lie prostrate before China, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, nor would it like the Islamic country’s government to grow unnecessarily close to the rogue Erdoğan regime in Turkey. Unfortunately for Imran Khan, he has done both, much to the dismay of Saudi Arabia. If his diplomatic manoeuvres and foreign policy resetting were not enough, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi went on threatening Saudi Arabia on live television that his country would now have to look toward other “like-minded” Islamic countries for support on its Kashmir rants, in an obvious indication to Pakistan getting cosy with Turkey. This had resulted in Saudi crown prince Mohamad Bin Salman refusing to meet Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Bajwa during his visit to Riyadh.
It would not come as a surprise, therefore, that a covert Saudi hand is reported behind the massive protests in Pakistan, which threaten Imran Khan’s prospects of remaining Prime Minister. In fact, the opposition parties of Pakistan are also calling for re-election to be conducted, minus the involvement of armed forces and the intelligence. Meanwhile, China will most obviously come running trying to save the Imran Khan regime from toppling, as Khan has proven himself as an unparalleled Chinese asset in Islamabad.
What is therefore being witnessed is a clash between Saudi Arabia and China on Pakistani land. While Saudi vouches for the uprooting of Imran Khan and army regime in Pakistan, China continues to support the same for its own interests.
