Pakistan's military and government are grappling with the fear of how India might retaliate for the Pahalgam terror attack—while facing another challenge: the call for the release of Imran Khan. Recently, the Shahbaz Sharif administration has been under increasing pressure to free former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Former cricket star Imran Khan was ousted in April 2022 due to disagreements with the military. Before his imprisonment on corruption charges, Khan led mass protests against the army. His arrest prompted his supporters to attack several military installations, including the army's headquarters in Rawalpindi and the ISI building in Faisalabad.
Since the Pahalgam attack, Imran's followers on social media platform X have been clamoring for his release. They allege that Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir orchestrated the Pahalgam attack, which left 26 dead and 17 injured.
Over 300,000 posts have used the hashtag #ReleaseKhanForPakistan, according to X Analytics data. Another trending hashtag, #FreeImranKhan, saw over 35,000 posts by April 29.
On the official account of Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), these hashtags were posted more than 35 times.
Source: aajtak
Related hashtags like #RestoreAccessToImranKhan, #PakistanUnderMilitaryFascism, and #FreeKhanToLeadPakistan underscore the growing discontent against Pakistan's political and military leadership.
PTI-affiliated user @indoraptorPti posted, 'If India is going to attack Pakistan, Imran Khan should be immediately released and taken to his residence.'
Campaign for Imran Khan's Release Gains Momentum
Last Monday, PTI Senator Shibli Faraz demanded Khan's release in the Pakistani Senate, arguing that Khan's opinion should be included in the nation's decision-making.
On April 25, during PTI's 29th foundation day, there was a surge in online campaigns for Khan's release, as supporters appealed to end his "illegal" detention.
Last week, X users targeted Pakistan's Army Chief using hashtags like #ResignAsimMunir, #PakistanUnderMilitaryFascism, #UndeclaredMartialLaw, and #BoycottFaujiDhanda.
For decades, Pakistan's army has been accused of undermining peace efforts with India. The military wields significant power over the nation and has been involved in cross-border terrorist activities.
