Asia | Pain in Punjab

Imran Khan’s party wins a surprise victory against Pakistan’s government

The former prime minister’s rallies have proved unexpectedly successful

Supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party carry posters, as they gather to listen the virtual address of the ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan, during a countrywide protest on inflation in Karachi, Pakistan June 19, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
|ISLAMABAD

When pakistan’s Parliament sent Imran Khan packing in a vote of no confidence in early April, the deposed prime minister said he would not go quietly. He has been true to his word. Night after night for the past few months he has held rallies to drum home his message that he was defenestrated in a nefarious plot orchestrated by America. From stages across the land, he has railed against the “imported government” that replaced him. Never mind that he offered no evidence for his theories; supporters lapped them up. The question for his opponents has always been whether Mr Khan could translate this fervour into electoral success.

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Comeback Khan”

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