The Pakistani government on Sunday banned an ethnic Pashtun rights movement that has long criticized the country’s powerful military, the latest sign of a renewed crackdown on public dissent and political opposition.
While much of the government clampdown on dissent has targeted supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, analysts say the move to ban P.T.M. suggests that the military — long seen as the invisible hand guiding Pakistan’s politics — is expanding the scope of its efforts to squash dissent and enhance the legitimacy of the coalition government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. His government came to power earlier this year in general elections marked by allegations of vote rigging.
You must log in or register to comment.