Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update Special Edition: Protests in Pakistan, May 11, 2023

Authors: Peter Mills, Kathryn Tyson, and Brian Carter

Data Cutoff: May 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. ET

Figure 1. Protests and Salafi-Jihadi Attacks in Pakistan

Source: Kathryn Tyson and Peter Mills.

Unrest may continue in Pakistan despite efforts by the Pakistani government and former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to deescalate the protests. The Pakistani Supreme Court ruled on May 11 that the government’s arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9 was illegal, while Khan separately urged calm from his supporters on May 11.[1] CTP observed two protests in Pakistan on May 11, down from 24 protests on May 10, but the Pakistani government continued to target former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrek-e Insaf (PTI) to suppress its protest movement. Pakistan has also arrested thousands of PTI supporters and several senior PTI leaders, and clashes between the PTI and Pakistani security forces have killed and injured dozens of protestors.[2] An anonymous senior Pakistani official told CBS News that at least eight people had been killed in the protests, but the PTI says the number of killed is in the dozens, which could fuel continued or renewed protests.[3] The poor economic and political conditions that led to the current crisis persist and may worsen as Pakistan begins to prepare for elections in October.[4] Khan and his PTI supporters and the Pakistani security establishment remain at odds, and the recent round of protests will exacerbate this situation.

Pakistani military deployments to major cities will cause commanders to shift their focus away from addressing the threat Pakistan faces from Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) if the deployments protract. The TTP is already attempting to exploit the protest movement and discredit the Pakistani state. A senior TTP commander commended the protests and urged TTP fighters to take the current “opportunity” to attack the military on May 11.[5] The commander also incited protesters to take up arms.[6]

Pakistan Military Show of Force

Islamabad, Pakistan

• Notes: Pakistani security forces conducted a flag march as a show of force in the Islamabad red zone.[7]

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province

• Notes: Pakistani security forces conducted a flag march as a show of force in Rawalpindi[8]

Lahore, Punjab Province

• Notes: Pakistani security forces conducted a flag march as a show of force in Lahore[9]

Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

• Notes: Pakistani security forces conducted a flag march as a show of force in Peshawar[10]

PTI Protests

Islamabad, Pakistan

• Notes: PTI protestors clashed with Pakistani security forces in Islamabad. Pakistani security forces used tear gas to control PTI protestors.[11]

Lahore, Punjab Province

• Notes: PTI protestors clashed with Pakistani security forces in Lahore. Pakistani security forces responded with tear gas.[12]

PTI Demonstrations Celebrating Supreme Court Decision

Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

• Notes: PTI supporters celebrated Pakistani supreme court declaring the unrest of Imran Khan unlawful.[13]

Jamrud, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

• Notes: PTI supporters celebrated Pakistani supreme court declaring the unrest of Imran Khan unlawful. [14]

Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

• Notes: PTI supporters celebrated Pakistani supreme court declaring the unrest of Imran Khan unlawful.[15]

Taliban Rhetoric:

• TTP Commander Sarbakf Mohmand expressed support for PTI protests against the Pakistani government and military. Mohmand echoed PTI rhetoric by framing the Pakistani military as responsible for Pakistan’s economic and politics crises.[16]
• Former Taliban government official Mobeen Khan echoed PTI rhetoric and stated the nation of Pakistan welcomed the release of Imran Khan.[17]