Why Imran Khan is the most powerful man in Pakistan

November 24 saw the beginning of a political showdown between Imran Khan and Pakistan’s government. Thousands of Khan’s supporters marched on Islamabad to put pressure on the country’s weakening administration, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. India Today Global sat down with Sushant Sareen of the Observer Research Foundation to break down the impact of these protests on Pakistan.

The protesters aimed to achieve three primary objectives: the release of Imran Khan and other detained leaders, a reversal of the alleged election fraud, and the restoration of judicial independence by revoking the 26th amendment

Sareen stated that regardless of the outcome of the protests, Imran Khan has already won. Despite being in jail, Khan has used his mass appeal to launch massive demonstrations that have placed an already unpopular government on the back foot. Shehbaz Sharif’s administration is facing significant public backlash because of a number of factors. Its public legitimacy has been hurt by the widespread belief that it rigged the February 2024 elections. The economy has faltered and repeated terror attacks have further damaged its political standing. Sareen explained that Khan has demonstrated a resilience that has surprised many analysts and the country’s political and military leadership. Imran Khan’s popularity has divided numerous elements of the traditional Pakistani establishment – including the army, the judiciary, the media and the Punjabi upper middle-class.

Sareen says that India will likely stay the course on its current foreign policy towards Pakistan. In particular, Sareen argues that engagement with Pakistan will yield few benefits for New Delhi.