Imran Khan not the only one silenced as Pakistan military stifles dissent

Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan hasn’t seen any visitors in more than five weeks, according to his party.

His family say this is partly to stop his words reaching the outside world. They blame the country’s military chief, Field Marshall Asim Munir, a charge the government rejects. It says the meetings stopped because Khan broke jail rules prohibiting discussion of politics.

While Khan may be silenced, he’s far from the only one under pressure.

Journalists, analysts and human rights advocates say the space to disagree with the state is increasingly limited – and the risks greater.

Last weekend, human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband were convicted of sharing anti-state social media posts.

The couple will spend 10 years in jail.

Imaan Mazari and her husband are to serve 10 years in jail after being convicted of various charges

It’s been more than eight weeks since Khan saw a family member, more than five since he met a lawyer and then it was only for eight minutes, his party says.

“This is the only way we have right now to create enough pressure that we are allowed to meet him,” Khanum said at the protest. “It’s his right to meet his lawyers, it’s his right to meet his family, it’s his communication with the outside world.”

That communication from Khan has often been highly critical of Pakistan’s government and military chief. After meetings inside the jail, Khan’s words have often been posted on his X account, attributed to him and giving directions to his party and supporters.

“They are unable to block his voice because people want to hear him, they read his messages, they are not giving up on him,” Khanum says.

But for now, with meetings stopped, so have those messages.