Pakistan unveils new national paramilitary force, sparking fears of political crackdown

Pakistan unveils new national paramilitary force, sparking fears of political crackdown

Pakistan said on Monday it was creating a national paramilitary force, prompting concern among opposition parties and human rights groups that it could be used as a tool of political repression

Supporters of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), carry a cutout of him, as they gather, to protest what they call a black day and a stolen mandate in last year’s general election, during a rally in Swabi, Pakistan on February 8, 2025. Reuters File