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Protests and Security Peril: Where Are Pakistan's Problems Heading?

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been protesting and marching toward Islamabad, demanding ex-PM Imran Khan's release.
Sputnik
Pakistani protesters are marching on Islamabad to decry the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been in jail for the last year and a half, and demand his release, ex-ambassador and former deputy head of mission (Embassy of Pakistan, Moscow), Ata Munim Shahid, told Sputnik India.
The protests come in addition to security challenges related to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP*) in certain parts of Pakistan, mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan, he added.

"The overall security situation of the country, however, is under control. We expect that in the next few days, these protests will subside and normalisation will return. Nevertheless, the TTP and BLA will continue to pose some challenges for a while until a solution is found or these entities are neutralised," the former diplomat stated.

Pakistan needs to wake up and not be a laughing stock for its enemies, former Minister for Defence Production Lt. Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi. He emphasised that the country is facing a real and immediate danger, as evidenced by large public gatherings against law enforcement agencies, which necessitate urgent resolution.
It is crucial to remember that all Pakistanis, regardless of political affiliations, must unite in this challenging time, Lodhi said, suggesting that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should stop short of D-Chowk square to avoid creating issues for visiting state officials.
The government should derequisition the army, whose resources are already stretched, or the army should decline deployment against its own people and permit a peaceful sit-in by PTI, he further pointed out.

"All parties involved must ensure hygiene at the protest site, with uninterrupted provisions for water and food, and makeshift washrooms should be established, and restoring the flow of traffic nationwide is essential, Lodhi said, warning that if a clash occurs, "it could change Pakistan irreversibly."

the current political situation in Pakistan will normalise within a matter of days, Khalid Mahmood, a political analyst and former Secretary of PC-CPEC Pakistan, assured in a conversation with Sputnik India.
While there is no immediate security threat in the capital, some areas remain uncertain due to ongoing protests. With the presence of official guests, including the president of Belarus, it is evident that progress is being made and there is no threat to the current system, the pundit said.

"It is important to recognise that the current challenges are largely created by foreign forces aiming to disrupt political stability in Pakistan. These issues can and will be addressed in a timely manner. We must also acknowledge that some foreign powers, particularly those not aligned with Pakistan, China, and Russia, may be dissatisfied with our nation's trajectory," Mahmood concluded.

* Terrorist organisation banned in Russia and other countries
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