Pakistan, Sudan, Iraq.

Today's three stories you should know.

Mar 14, 2023

Pakistan

Violence has erupted outside the home of Pakistan’s former prime minister, Imran Khan, as his supporters fought with police attempting to arrest him. Police fired tear gas and water canons as the crowd threw bricks. Syed Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari, a senior police officer, told reporters on the scene that they intended to arrest Khan. The politician tweeted a video from inside his house as the chaos continued outside and said: “[If] something happens to me, if they send me to jail, or if I am killed, you have to show you can fight without me as well.” Khan was ousted as prime minister last April. He blames his successor Shehbaz Sharif for an assassination attempt against him at a rally in November during which he was shot in the leg.

Sudan

Police in Sudan’s capital Khartoum today fired tear gas as hundreds of protesters attempted to march on the presidential palace. Demonstrations have been taking place almost constantly since a military coup in 2021 halted a promised transition to democracy following the toppling of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019. They are led by professional groups, including doctors, journalists, lawyers, teachers and engineers. A new agreement to transition to democracy has been received suspiciously by protesters who doubt the military is going to give up power.

Iraq

Slightly odd story from Reuters today. As the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq approaches, they’ve tracked down the journalist who infamously hurled his shoes at then-US President George W. Bush. Muntazer al-Zaidi was unrepentant, believing little has improved in Iraq since. "This scene stands as proof that one day a simple person was capable of saying no to that arrogant person with all his power, tyranny, arms, media, money and authority, and to say that you [Bush] were wrong," he said. Zaidi was jailed for six months after the incident. He subsequently left Iraq but returned in 2018 and unsuccessfully ran for parliament "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog!" Zaidi had shouted at Bush as he threw his shoes.