Pakistan establishment closes ranks

With military courts, intimidation of the press and mass arrests, Pakistan's rulers are seeking to destroy former prime minister Imran Khan's support ahead of elections, analysts say.

Khan's brief arrest earlier this month sparked days of street protests.

Islamabad has labelled the violence "anti-state", justifying huge roundups and the revival of army courts to try civilians who targeted government and military buildings.

Journalists, lawyers and activists in Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party report campaigns of intimidation and influence which they blame on the "establishment."

"They want to make it clear to Imran Khan that he can't fight with the establishment," said analyst Hasan Askari.

"People are being broken," he told AFP. "By exerting pressure in different ways, they are trying to put the politicians in their place."

The military's media wing did not respond to repeated requests for comment by AFP.

In the days following the protests, more than a dozen of his senior leadership were repeatedly arrested and released on allegations of instigating the violence.

In press conferences after being freed, some of his closest aides condemned the violence and announced they were parting ways with Khan.

"They have put everyone in jail," Khan complained in an address. "If you say the magic words, 'We are no longer in PTI', then you will be released."

In Khan's power base in the eastern city of Lahore, a grassroots PTI supporter said her son was arrested after protesting peacefully.

"It was clear that he had been beaten and was visibly scared," the housewife told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Amnesty International said "overly broad and vague anti-terrorism provisions" are being used and "a pall of fear hangs over Khan's supporters following the arbitrary arrests of many opposition leaders".

"It is a familiar story. A political party, thinking it can take on the country's all-powerful establishment, crosses a red line and quickly finds itself losing a ruthless, one-sided war of attrition," said an editorial in the Dawn newspaper.

"The only way out is to do exactly what you are told."

Journalists in Karachi told AFP they were being sent streams of briefings by the army public relations wing targeting Khan's reputation.

"We get a lot of smearing news from the 'big brothers' on WhatsApp, which are supposed to be off the record and we are obliged to broadcast without any attribution," a TV reporter said on condition of anonymity, using a euphemism for the army.

"We observe self-censorship voluntarily to avoid any nuisance," one more reporter admitted.

Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International have said prominent pro-PTI reporter Imran Riaz Khan has been missing since being abducted by military intelligence agencies two weeks ago.

Media has been saturated with pro-army content since Khan's arrest, including a "Martyrs' Day" hastily announced on Thursday.

Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center said it was "not a surprise that the army would want to apply a PR blitz".

"It's suffered major blows to its popularity and even its credibility because of Khan's anti-army narratives," he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has openly criticised the Supreme Court after they ruled Khan's arrest illegal.

"Police behaviour, delaying tactics, and other legal complications purposely created by the authorities are a hindrance in the way of quick justice," Supreme Court barrister Gohar Ali Khan -- a member of Khan's legal team – said.

The government meanwhile approved the use of military courts to try protesters. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said it was "the consequences of Mr. Khan's actions".