By Chathushka Perera
Istanbul, Pakistan (CWBN)_ PM Imran Khan and his administration faced another battering during Senate sessions in Parliament, yesterday (22th October), when opposition lawmakers set off a turbulent blaze of inquiries into several key issues and levying allegations, such as the military orchestrated abduction of Sindh Province’s Chief of Police, Inspector General of Police, Mushtaq Mahar and the recent arrest of MP Muhammad Safdar, following a massive anti-government rally held near Lahore, on Sunday (17th October).
It has been alleged that the military had forced the IG to sign off on an arrest warrant against Safdar, which has led to rising tensions between law enforcement and military personnel, requiring the intervention of the Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Army, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa. He has hence ordered an inquiry into the matter and has prevented the regional police force from engaging in mass protests.
The incident raised an “unprecedented” opposition to the Pakistani military which has posed continuous and intrusive involvement in civil affairs, including law enforcement, however, it has also been noted that Sindh, which is under the opposition’s governance, has been orchestrating the police protests.
Starting from the 16th, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the opposition coalition, attempted a series of anti-government protests, holding its second gathering in Karachi, Sindh, on Sunday, however, just hours after the protest, Safdar was arrested at a nearby hotel.