Pakistan's Failing Economy to Likely Worsen Political Crisis

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Pakistan's political crisis will continue to deepen despite the removal of Imran Khan as prime minister because the country still has to overcome massive economic hardships and curb inflation, politicians and experts from Pakistan told Sputnik.

This past Sunday, the Pakistani Parliament ousted Imran Khan in a 174-0 vote of no confidence. Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif was elected the new prime minister the next day.

"The political crisis is far from over. Pakistan is faced with a myriad of threats and challenges. The failing economy and rising inflation are the most immediate. With the IMF programme currently suspended, serious steps to stabilise the economy are needed", Sehar Kamran, a former senator and senior politician patron-in-chief of the non-partisan think tank Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies (CPGS), said.

According to the expert, Pakistan also needs to immediately rectify its foreign relations with partners in the West, including repairing "strained diplomatic ties with the United States".

"We cannot afford a policy of isolation in today's world. The country needs a foreign policy based on Pakistan's interests and mutual respect with other friendly countries", the ex-senator added.

Sharif will "face an uphill battle", the expert said. She suggested that Sharif's priorities in office could include "maintaining political harmony and consensus to successfully lead a coalition government, providing relief to people, strengthening foreign relations with brotherly and neighbouring countries, repairing strained diplomatic ties with the United States, overcoming budget and trade deficits, and normalising a highly polarised society".

The opposition's strategy will be to form a consensus government for three months and carry out electoral reforms to ensure fair elections, Kamran believes.

"A caretaker setup can be formed for two months to supervise the preparation for the next elections, which can take place by September or October of this year", she added.

Imran Khan. File photo

© AFP 2023 / AAMIR QURESHI

Khan Blames American Involvement

These plans may be endangered by Khan having accused Washington of orchestrating his removal, calling on supporters to take to the streets in protest and withdrawing his party from parliament, paving the way for a prolonged political crisis.

"He will try to maximise his narrative of political victimisation and gain public support through public protests and rallies", Kamran said.

Khan claims that the United States, displeased by his independent foreign policy choices, which have led to improved relations with China and Russia, manipulated the vote of no-confidence and worked behind the scenes to bring him down.

The ex-prime minister argued that Washington was disturbed by his recent visit to Russia and his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 24 February. The US State Department has denied these allegations.

Pakistani Senator Anwar Ul Haq Kakar told Sputnik that the opposition charged Khan's government with economic mismanagement.

"Khan's allegations seem unsubstantiated, it was an organic political move to remove him", he said.

Kamran backed this opinion, saying that Khan's removal came amid the economy struggling with high inflation and a plummeting Pakistani rupee, adding that sources from the Foreign Office suggested that the ex-prime minister and his party had unfairly politicised and exaggerated a diplomatic communique to achieve their personal political goals.

"Pakistan needs to immediately rectify its foreign relations with its friends in the West. We cannot afford a policy of isolation in today's world", she stressed.

Soldiers of special forces of Pakistan army training (File)

© AP Photo / B.K.Bangash

Pakistani Military Stays Out of Crisis

Both domestic and foreign media alleged that Pakistan's powerful military, which has traditionally had its say in foreign and defence policies, initiated or supported the removal of the prime minister, following his allegedly anti-Western rhetoric that affected a number of key relationships.

Political experts told Sputnik that there are many factors, mostly economic, which led to the removal without any non-democratic force.

"They included economic crisis, inflation, incompetence, poor performance, bad governance, failure to fulfill promises, a non-working relationship with the opposition, as well as tense civil-military ties. To state that the army initiated the political move against Khan would be too simplistic and naive", Kamran said.

Senator Anwar Ul Haq Kakar echoed his colleague's comment, stating that the "military has shown neutrality in this crisis".

Kamran recalled that as early as 6 January, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced a long march and a no-confidence move to remove Khan from office.

Starting on 27 February, Zardari led an eight-day long march from Karachi to Islamabad, and a no-confidence motion against Khan was submitted to parliament upon the conclusion of the march. The Pakistan Democratic Movement and the Pakistan Peoples Party have been mobilising the public and formed a plan to remove the prime minister since the beginning of the year.

What Does Political Upheaval in Pakistan Mean for the World?

The experts agreed that Pakistan would continue to play a traditional geopolitical role.

"A country of 220 million people holds an important position in the South Asia region and the Muslim world. It is a nuclear-armed state. No country or region can benefit with instability in Pakistan", Kamran stated.

Supporters of deposed Prime Minister Imran Khan's party participate in a rally to condemn the ouster of their leader's government, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 10, 2022. With the parliamentary no-confidence vote against Khan early Sunday, he called on supporters to take to the streets in protest and the political opposition preparing to install his replacement.

© AP Photo / Fareed Khan

According to her, peace and prosperity in Pakistan creates great opportunities for regional countries through different mutual regional projects.

"The earliest completion of the Pakistan China Economic Corridor can boost economic activities. Moreover, Pakistan is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the strategic location of Pakistan offers connectivity to landlocked Central Asian states", she stated.

Surprisingly, no Pakistani prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term. Twice the head of state has been ousted by army coups.