The Guardian view on Pakistan’s army: go back to the barracks | Editorial

The confrontation between the country's most popular politician, Imran Khan, and the generals threatens to paralyse the state

The standoff between Imran Khan, Pakistan's former prime minister, and the country's military is yet another sign that the political system created by the army is inherently unstable. Since independence, Pakistan's generals have become ever more involved in running the country - and its civilian leaders ever more dependent on their backing. None of the nation's 31 prime ministers has completed a full fiveyear tenure. Politicians survive in office only if they do as they are told.

Trying to regain power against the army's wishes is a dangerous business. Mr Khan is pushing ahead regardless. With the economy in a mess, he calculates that his best chance of winning an election is for one to be held as soon as possible. He also faces terrorism and corruption charges, which were the pretext on which he ended up in custody earlier this month. Mr Khan was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau, an anti-corruption body headed by a retired general. He says the charges are baseless. But if convicted he risks being disqualified from politics, a fate that befell his recent predecessor Nawaz Sharif, who also clashed with the army. Mr Khan fears watching the elections scheduled for this October unfold from a jail cell - if they are held at all.