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Pakistan: Why ex-PM Khan's supporters are rooting for Trump

53 1
21.10.2024

When Imran Khan was ousted from power two years ago, he was quick to blame the United States for his downfall.

Khan was removed from premiership in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in the Pakistani parliament. He was handed a 10-year prison sentence for corruption in January this, weeks before Pakistan's general election in February.

However, the former cricket player-turned-politician alleged that his country's powerful military generals and Washington orchestrated his removal from power. The claim was unsubstantiated, but his supporters firmly believe it.

"Historically, the US has had an influence on Pakistan's foreign and security policies, and there is a widely held belief among many Pakistanis that Washington can influence Pakistani politics," Raza Rumi, a US-based Pakistani analyst, told DW.

Khan's supporters, however, are only critical of the US Democratic Party, President Joe Biden in particular, who they say didn't want Khan at the helm. They believe Khan's troubles started with Republican Donald Trump's defeat in the 2020.

"It is true that Biden never called Khan when he was prime minister. The Biden administration ignored Khan, and many (in Khan's administration) appealed to him to get in touch," Rumi said.

During his presidency, Trump maintained good ties with Khan. The two leaders met in Washington and exchanged compliments during their meeting.

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Trump and Khan share a similar leadership style. Both are populist politicians and are........

© Deutsche Welle


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