On May 9, Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister and leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), was arrested outside the Islamabad High Court by paramilitary rangers. And after 50 hours of his arrest, the Pakistan Supreme Court declared the arrest illegal.

However, Khan’s arrest led to unprecedented protests between Khan's supporters and the police, resulting in six deaths and numerous injuries across several cities. The situation worsened when angry protesters stormed a radio station in Pakistan, and clashes between PTI supporters and the police broke out in Islamabad. Several violent protests erupted across Pakistan including at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and the residence of the Corps Commander in Lahore.

“Def-Savvy” Abhishek Bhalla and host Dev Goswami discuss why this incident turned into an anti-army movement. And what is the internal rivalry between the army and the ISI. Despite the chaos, is there a silver lining to this crisis?

“For the first time in history, the Pakistan army has been not only challenged but called out. The absence of any attacks on police stations, courts, or other state institutions has caught them off-guard. These images will be recorded in history as a significant moment of public protest against the military establishment in Pakistan,” says Abhishek.

Tune in to the full conversation!